Trinity's Heritage

In 1883, some German pastors downtown decided to launch a new mission congregation on the far east side of Buffalo. A new neighborhood was springing up at Churchyard Farms, a tract of land previously owned by President Millard Fillmore. It looked like a promising place for a new church. A small chapel was constructed, and a young pastor was assigned to the mission. The pastor, Rev. Henry Kraemer, would serve the church for over 64 years, earning him mention in Ripley's Believe It Or Not. An associate pastor, Rev. Rodney Heckman, joined Rev. Kraemer and continued as senior pastor for a total of 39 years of service. The leadership provided during the lengthy tenures of these two men helped create a large, strong congregation.

The little chapel on Gold Street was joined four years later by the tall-steepled sanctuary which continues at the center of our worship life today. German immigrant families, many of whom worked at the nearby railroad yards, flocked to Trinity Evangelical Church. Trinity's historic protestant denomination eventually became part of the Evangelical Reformed Church and then merged with the Congregationalists in 1957 to become the United Church of Christ. Descendants of the founding members continued their loyal membership at Trinity. The building was expanded several times, and the large single-story addition that houses our auditorium and other ministry areas was completed in 1967.

Trinity members formed bowling teams, sewing circles, scout troops for boys and girls, and many other groups that made Trinity both a social and spiritual center for the Lovejoy community. A men's group built a cottage named 'Alcona' on the Lake Erie shore at Athol Springs. Church picnics and Confirmation reunions drew large crowds of people as the church membership approached 1,200. The German language of the founders was eventually replaced by English in worship.

In the 1960s, Rev. Heckman remarked that while many city churches had moved to the suburbs, Trinity had remained a neighborhood church. Most members lived within walking distance. That situation changed in the following decades, however, as new generations relocated to the suburbs. Several pastors served faithfully after Rev. Heckman's retirement during a period of membership decline typical of many urban churches.

Today, Trinity remains a vital part of the Lovejoy neighborhood. We are now a regional church, drawing members from a large geographic area, but remaining committed to the spiritual, physical, and social needs of our community.

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