A Reconciling United Methodist Congregation
Trinity and Montclair History |
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Trinity History Trinity Church has served Berkeley since 1883 when fifteen members formed Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. We've always been part of the campus community; our first building was located on the corner of Allston Way and Fulton Street (1886). The church membership quickly grew to over 500, propelling the congregation to move to a new facility at the corner of Ellsworth and Allston in 1904. The enlarging university campus needed that property for the building of Edwards Stadium in 1921, and so, Trinity set out to find another home. Our Current Church Home We were blessed to purchase our current property (then an old farm) at the corner of Dana and Bancroft. By 1929, the large sanctuary was completed; Trinity Hall followed in 1934, with the Chapel completed in 1952 and the Wesley Foundation campus ministry building completing the quadrangle in 1955. Our buildings say much about our history, for Trinity grew in tandem with the University, always serving the campus community. Responding to the Times Our location put us at the heart of the turbulence of the 1960's and 1970's. The congregation embraced the change around them, opening our doors to the Berkeley Free Clinic in 1966, reaching out to many of the rootless young men and women who came to Berkeley to be part of the student and anti-war movements. Trinity sought to reaffirm our mission to reach out to all people through embracing ministry partners such as Bancroft Nursery School, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Berkeley Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless and the Berkeley Emergency Food and Housing Project, and hosting organizations like Maybeck High School. In 1985, Trinity was one of the first United Methodist churches to become a Reconciling Congregation, with an open and intentional ministry to people of all sexual orientations. In 1992, we were part of the revitalization of our own Wesley Foundation, United Methodist campus ministry at the University of California, Berkeley. Trinity is proud to continue our tradition of serving Berkeley and the campus community. |
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Montclair History Montclair United Methodist Church was founded in 1872 as the first German Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Oakland and continued its special ministry in three different locations until 1949. In 1950, the church felt the need for a ministry to children, youth and adults in the hills of Oakland. The sanctuary in Montclair was built in 1951 and the education unit in 1960. Montclair UMC was a diverse community and a reconciling congregation serving the area for 53 years. Unfortunately, the building developed structural issues and extensive deferred maintenance that were beyond the ability of the congregation to manage. The congregation was very brave and visionary, acting proactively, rather than letting the congregation dwindle away in the face of the huge expense and inability to develop ministry. The congregation entered a discernment process, looking at a variety of options: merger with another UMC, building another church, or developing a cooperative ministry with a social service agency. The building and land were sold in 2006 and the congregation continued their pioneering spirit and merged with Trinity United Methodist Church in Berkeley.  |
| 2362 Bancroft at Dana |
| Berkeley, California |
| Phone: 510-548-4716 |
| Fax: 510-548-4717 |