Our History
On March 27, 1950, 97 people crowded into the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Richeson at 705 Leland Street for an informal Bible study and worship. From those humble beginnings, Trinity Baptist Church was born. Two weeks later the church was officially organized, composed of one hundred seventy-seven (177) members. H. T. Tinsley, acting pastor until August 16, 1950, presided at the organizational meeting. The Barbara Dulnig Building on the Schreiner College campus was the temporary meeting place until the first building (the present Chapel-Educational Building) was completed at the present church site and occupied March 2, 1951.The Membership Charter closed September 24, 1950, with two hundred sixty-six (266) members.
H. Marshall Smith, who became the first full-time pastor, August 16, 1950, served until February 16, 1958. The next pastor, Dr. Leon B. Patterson, came to the church May 15, 1958 and served until March of 1977.
The Sanctuary-Educational Building was completed for occupancy April 1, 1962. This building together with the Chapel-Educational Building, provide more than thirty thousand (30,000) square feet of floor space. Since 1965 the church has (1) Remodeled the chapel-Educational Building, to provide for a chapel, enlarged kitchen and library, central heating and air conditioning, new flooring on the lower level, offices, storage space, hallway carpeting, new ceiling, including the carpeting of the foyer, balcony, and parlor, re-tiling classroom floors on the lower level, purchase of a Steinway Grand, three octaves of the Schulmerich Handbells, additional of automatic features and roll player for the Carillon Bells, originally provided by the R. P. Smith family, installation of a centrally controlled Sanctuary lighting and sound system; (3) curbing and guttering for all sides of church property, parking lots, mercury vapor lighting, lampposts, church sign, and landscaping and fill.
Church property includes six lots (450 ft. by 150 ft.) Facing Bluebell Rd., three of which were gifts of the G. L. Richeson family and two large (and square) lots at the corner of Galbraith St. and Jackson Road, gifts of the R. P. Smith family. The original principal indebtedness on church grounds and building was retired in 1971.
Until 1968 the church provided homes for its pastor and other full-time staff members. In 1968, the church sold its homes, and it began to provide a housing allowance through the Annual Budget. The church also owned a cabin at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment, near Leakey, Texas, until 1969, at which time at the request of the Encampment, the church sold at half price, on an interest free, five year note, the cabin to the Encampment.
Total gifts for all causes since 1950 total $2,908,739.12, which includes $397,423.02 for missions causes. Percentage mission giving has grown from 3% to more than 28%. In 1976 the church received in total gifts $164,794.56, of which $45,651.33 was given to mission causes.
Through December 31, 1976, the church had received for membership 2294 persons, 484 by baptism and 1,810 by letter or statement. The church has lettered out or dropped because of death, removal, or transfer of membership 1,417. Present membership (as of December 31, 1976) is 877.
In September of 1985, the church began having two morning services.
June of 1987, Trinity began Western Hills Mission with five families from TBC. Western Hills was constituted as a church, June 2, 1991.
October 5, 1988, Mike Davidson became Minister to Students and Singles and served until his death in a plane crash April 25, 1998.
November 13, 1990, Trinity purchased Lot 12 (602) and Lot 11 (606) houses on Bluebell Road.
April of 1992, Trinity purchased 610 and 614 Bluebell Houses, a part of lot 8, all of 9 and 10, Block 1, Bluebell Hills addition. These houses are used for Sunday School classes and one house was designated as a Missionary House and the first missionary residents arrived in August 2000.
In March of 1994, Trinity began a mission called Sunrise Baptist which constituted as a church, in June of 1996. Trinity had purchased the property of Baptist Temple for this mission, now a church.
In 1995, the church began broadcasting its morning services on a one-week delayed basis. Trinity is still on the local television station Sunday mornings and has added a Wednesday evening program as well.
In 1997, Trinity started a Mother’s Day Out program, which is now called Children’s Day Out. That same year the church began remodeling many of its interior facilities.
On January of 1998, the church began three morning worship services and at the same hours, provided Sunday School classes.
April 24, 2000, Trinity had 1,984 members with 521 being non resident, making 1,463 resident members.
There were three interim pastors, Dr. Brad Creed, Dr. Donald Anderson and Ken Coffee, before Dr. John Petty became pastor, May 1, 2002.
Under the leadership of Dr. Petty, the church established five Core Values: Love for One Another, Jesus-Centered Faith, Openness in God-centered Worship, Family Oriented, and Missions Involvement. Five Bedrock Beliefs were also established: God loves us unconditionally. Everyone needs a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God communicates with us through prayer and worship. The Bible is God’s Word for our lives and God has a plan for every life. Teaching God’s Word, Loving God’s Children and Sharing God’s Son, is Trinity’s Mission Statement.
On Sunday, August 21st, Trinity called Dr. James McGlothlin to serve as the Interim Pastor. With his help and God's guidance, we will usher in a new era of serving the Lord at Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville.