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Trinity History

Trinity United Church is appropriately named – referring not only to the union of Father, Son and Holy Ghost – but also to the union of Christian believers originating in three communities – Timberlea, Lakeside, and Greenhead.

Lakeside

In 1950, in Lakeside, United Church people were meeting for worship in various homes and sometimes in an old army building on the Greenhead Road – the location of the former Canadian Legion Hall. Services were led by laymen from within the congregation and by students from Pine Hill Divinity College. Later a hall was built on the Greenhead Road by volunteer labour for a meeting place and for Sunday School, Cubs, Scouts, and social activities.

Timberlea

In Timberlea, in the early 1950’s, the United and Baptist congregations worshipped as a Community Church. Their meeting place was St. Andrew’s School – at that time a small three-room structure. Preachers were laymen from within the congregation.

Greenhead

Meanwhile, in the community of Greenhead, one mile south of Lakeside, fourteen families gathered for worship in the Greenhead United Church. There was a Sunday School enrolment of forty students. The building, a small wooden structure with gothic style windows, was erected of timber, grown on the property of two of the church members. The church was served by a student minister who continued to serve after his ordination and by various ministers from Halifax churches. The Lakeside people also attended communion here, and would worship here occasionally during the winter months, when their hall was difficult to heat.

Amalgamation

As the Halifax watershed area expanded, the Halifax Public Service Commission bought the land, homes and the little United Church of the Greenhead residents. The settlement was abandoned over a period of a few years. The Greenhead – Lakeside – Timberlea United Church congregation passed a resolution of amalgamation on October 6, 1953. An application was then made to the Halifax Presbytery of the United Church for consent of the sale of the church building at Greenhead. Consent was duly granted.The building and property were sold for the sum of $4,130.00.

The Public Service Commission then returned the building to the church trustees “free of charge”. The cash proceeds from the sale were used “to purchase a site at Timberlea, improve the site, to move the building to Timberlea, to erect a foundation and here to set up the building for public worship.” (Quotation from the “Resolution of Amalgamation.”) The foundation was laid under the present location of the choir loft.

In its new location at Timberlea, Trinity continued as a mission church under the supervision of successive ordained ministers and served by many students. The little church grew, until it was necessary to obtain additional land and to expand the building.

First Expansion

In 1953, with the aid of a loan, and with volunteer labour, the basement for a new and larger church building took form. A roof was added and a platform built at the west end.

On completion of the new basement, the congregation expanded rapidly, the Sunday School enrolment soared to 120 students with an average attendance of 85. There were mid-week groups: CGIT, Messengers, Tyros and Cubs. Here the very active U.C.W. (United Church Women) hosted social affairs and was the backbone of money raising activities that supported the church.

The original church building remained attached – its lower level became a convenient kitchen, the upstairs used for meetings and group activities. In 1967, assisted by a grant and loans the next phase of building construction began – creating the sanctuary upstairs. Until the present structure was completed, worship services and Sunday School classes were held in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.

The little church building that had been moved here from Greenhead was demolished to make space for the new one. On completion of the new edifice, in 1968, Trinity soon became one of four churches in the St. Margaret’s Pastoral Charge.

Dedication

Trinity United Church was dedicated on June 30, 1968. At that time, tribute was paid to all those who planned, contributed and prayed for that day.

New Growth

The four United churches in the Glen Margaret’s Pastoral Charge were William Black Memorial in Glen Margaret, St. Andrews & St. Marks in Ingramport, St. Lukes in Tantallon and Trinity in Timberlea. The four churches shared a Manse where the minister for all four churches lived. As well there were student ministers that shared the workload with the resident minister. This union continued until 1987 when Trinity decided to follow a new path and bade farewell to the Glen Margaret Pastoral Charge. On July 1, 1987 Crossroads Pastoral Charge was formed between St. James United Church in Goodwood and Trinity United Church in Timberlea.

Second Expansion

In 2003 the congregation voted to accept a building donation that was added to the back of the church. With the new addition it gave more space for Sunday School classrooms, meeting rooms, upgraded washrooms, offices, a small second kitchen, etc.

This new building was dedicated on October 24, 2004. Also, in 2003 Trinity celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a special church service in October where an invitation was sent out to former members of the congregation to come and worship together. A variety show, with the help from members of St. James’ United and the choir from St. Luke’s, Tantallon, provided an evening of much fun and laughter. The ladies of the U.C.W. organized and produced a cookbook with members of the congregation sharing their culinary secrets. As well, the Outreach Committee documented us in history by organizing a pictorial directory.

Acknowledgements

This history was compiled from the recollections of current and former members of our church. Our thanks go out to them all.

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