Our Story
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It takes a while to gather 150 years of info!
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Year
Events of Note
1877
Rev. Nathan Paltzgroff called as pastor
First services held at the Baptist Church on West School Street in Kent
Founded on July 22 as the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kent
Meet at Kent Town Hall through November
Started meeting at Christ Church Episcopal in December
1879
Went back to worshipping at the Baptist Church on West School Street in Kent
1882
Current plot of land purchased
1884
First worship space built
First worship space dedicated on September 7th
1889
Pastor Paltzgroff dies on October 3rd
1890
Rev. J. E. Loerch called as pastor
Affiliated with East Ohio Synod
1893
Rev. T. S. Smedley called as pastor
1903
Rev. Peter A. Hartman called as pastor
1905
Rev. Dr. Abram Miller called as pastor
1906
New constitution adopted
1908
Cornerstone of the oldest part of current building placed on August 15
1909
First worship service in current building on February 21
1911
Rev. J. H. Hedges called as pastor
1912
Rev. G. H. Rapp called as pastor
1913
Rev. Ralph J. White called as pastor
1915
Rev. Dr. Benjamin H. Pershing called as pastor
1918
Rev. Herbert A. Halverstadt called as pastor
1920
Rev. Dr. J. H. Dobbyn called as pastor
1921
Parsonage built
1922
The congregation's newsletter, The Lutheran Messenger, first published in the spring
Congregation becomes self-supporting on July 1
1923
Worship space remodeled and a refurbished organ installed
Congregation renamed to Trinity Lutheran Church in recognition of the years of support received from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron
1924
Rev. George T. Heintz called as pastor
Women's Missionary Society formed
40th Anniversary of first worship in old worship space
1926
Boy Scout Troop founded
Luther League founded
Wittenberg Glee Club Concert
1927
50th Anniversary of founding celebrated
1928
Rev. Martin W. Wappner called as pastor
Governing documents changes so women could serve on council
1934
First women elected to council
New bell donated and installed
1939
Rev. Edward H. Hamme called as pastor
Worship space remodeled with the pews replaced and turned to face west instead of south
1940
Remodeling of basement and parsonage
New pews, carpeting, and doors installed
1942
65th Annivesary celebrated
1943
Pastoral Intern Merle V. Rentz serves Trinity while in seminary
1945
Rev. Merle V. Rentz called as pastor
Trinity Fidelis founded
1947
Rev. George M. Kunkle called as pastor
1948
Refurbished organ installed
1949
Luther League founded
Garage built for parsonage
1951
Loan for refurbishing organ paid off
1952
75th Anniversary celebrated
Name of congregation legally changed to Trinity Lutheran Church of Kent from First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kent in honor of the support from Holy Trinity Lutheran in Akron
1953
Rev. Kunkle dies from an illness
1954
Rev. Otto F. Johnson called as pastor
1957
608 and 612 South Water Street purchased for parking and classrooms.
1960
The Ladies' Aid group dissolved
Congregational newsletter, Trinity Topics, founded
1964
Kent State campus worker hired in cooperation with Faith Lutheran
1965
The women's groups reorganized into three circles of Lutheran Church Women
1966
Mortgages for 608 and 612 South Water Street were paid off.
628 South Water Street purchased.
1969
765 Grove Avenue purchased as parsonage
1971
Lutheran Campus Ministries at Kent State, a cooperative venture of Trinity, Faith, and Calvary Lutheran Churches established
628 South Water Street sold.
1973
765 Grove Avenue sold
Rev. Victor A. Myers called as pastor
1983
Rev. Bruce G. Trethaway called as pastor
1990
Rev. Elizabeth M. Hazelton called as pastor
1997
Rev. Douglas E. Fidler called as associate pastor
Rev. Elizabeth M. Hazelton becomes lead pastor
2000
Great Hall Expansion dedicated
2022
Rev. Dr. Eric L. Bodenstab called as lead pastor
2023
Mortgage for Great Hall and office expansion paid off
2024
Trinity becomes a Reconciling In Christ congregation