Brief History of Holy
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church The property at 1002
Carolina Avenue, including a stately columned home known as "the old
Cranston Place," was purchased by the Board of American Missions in March
1951 upon the initiative of the Rev. Henry Horne, pastor of Resurrection
Lutheran Church in Augusta, GA. The
Rev. William B. Schaeffer was called to serve as mission developer and held the
first service on September 30, 1951. The church was formally organized January
6, 1952, and services continued to be held on the first floor of the original
building with the upper floor serving as a parsonage. By 1956, with over 100 children under
confirmation age attending Sunday School,
the second floor was converted to classrooms and a parsonage was
purchased. The first unit of a planned
building program was dedicated in March 1957 and included the sanctuary,
sacristy and pastor's study. Pastor
Schaeffer served seven years, first as mission developer and then as pastor.
In November 1958, the Rev.
E. Armand Shealy became Holy Trinity's second pastor and served 6 1/2
years. The church became self-supporting
by the end of 1960 and in January 1963, an addition to the educational building
which included classrooms for pre-school children, senior high youth and young
adult classes was completed. During this
time a 5-year-old kindergarten program was established.
In February 1966, the Rev.
Ralph I. Luman began service as pastor
and served four years. Planning began for further expansion of the educational
building to accommodate a growing congregation.
In 1970, the Rev. Larry S.
Long assumed the duties of pastor and served five years. In 1972, the original house was razed and a
second addition to the educational building completed which included a new
pastor's study, church office and fellowship hall in the upstairs portion and
additional classrooms downstairs. A
4-year-old kindergarten class was added to the preschool program in 1973. A lot on Arlington Heights was purchased in 1974 to fill a growing need
for off-street parking space.
In November 1976, the Rev.
John E. Boyd, Jr. began his ministry as Holy Trinity's fifth pastor. In 1981, the sanctuary was renovated to add
carpet, refinished pews and pew cushions.
A 3-year-old class was added to
the preschool program. Pastor Boyd
served Holy Trinity for 8 1/2 years.
In January 1986, the Rev.
Stephen T. Gragg became pastor of the church and served until May 1988 when he
accepted a call to full-time military service as chaplain. Dr. Theodore H. Coleman, Jr. began service as
vicar under Pastor Gragg's supervision in July 1987. Dr. Coleman was ordained in January 1989 and
assumed the duties of pastor until October 1991.
In August 1992, the Rev. E.
Ray Mohrmann became pastor of the church and served until August 1996. During this period, a new organ was purchased
in 1994, a mortgage-burning service was celebrated in 1995 and the Arlington
Heights parking lot was paved in 1996.
While under the interim leadership of
Rev. Richard F. Poock, the congregation began an extensive chancel
renovation project.
In July 1997, James K.
Glander was ordained at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Dallas, North Carolina,
where he served his seminary internship, and accepted the call to Holy
Trinity. He was installed as Holy
Trinity's pastor on August 24, 1997. The chancel renovation was completed
shortly after his arrival.
Today, we offer Sunday School classes for all ages, a vibrant youth program, Women of the ELCA and Lutheran Men in Mission programs for all ages. Other programs include Senior Adult Lutherans Together for seniors and Dining Unlimited for all.
| Cranston House First Members and Friends Rev. William Shaeffer
Rev.Armand Shealy Rev. Ralph Luman Rev. Larry Long Rev. John Boyd Rev. Steve Gragg Rev. Theodore Coleman Rev. Ray Mohrmann Rev. Richard Poock Rev. James Glander |
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