A Brief History of Trenton Methodist Church
The beginnings of Methodism in the Trenton area can be traced back to Feb. 10, 1788, when Francis Asbury recorded the following in his journal: “We then had to move on toward Trent.” On January 24, 1791, Bishop Asbury returned and recorded these words: “I had a most dreary ride to Trenton. Here I met with Lewis Bryan, brother of the late general.” Asbury preached on this occasion at an interdenominational chapel or “Free Church.” The Jones Circuit was formed from this part of the New River Circuit the following year. Bishop Asbury visited the area several times preaching at churches and at “preaching places” as well as overseeing the general health of the congregations; the last recorded visit was in 1815. Despite these earlier beginnings, very little is known about the earlier years of the Methodists in Trenton. Written records begin in 1880 and a list of Oral tradition has the Methodists meeting for many years in a “Free Church” located on a site within the present Trenton cemetery.
In the fall of 1887, a lot was obtained from the Jones Circuit Parsonage Trustees, and a new facility was soon built under the supervision of Mr. Ivy Andrews. This original structure is still in use, but with some alterations and additions. Early in the 1920’s the seating capacity was doubled and two Sunday School rooms were added. Again in the 1950’s the structure was enlarged, adding more Sunday School classrooms, a fellowship area, kitchen, and restrooms. This church was specifically included and described in the Trenton Historic District and placed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Sanctuary was renovated to provide a most beautiful place to worship our God. In December 1987, a new fellowship hall, kitchen, and pastor’s study were completed and to celebrate the remarkable achievement of having retired the building debt in just over 3 years, a note-burning and dedication ceremony was held on Sunday June 9, 1991. The new building was named “Whitaker Hall” in memory of W. Murray Whitaker, a faithful member and primary benefactor.
By 1889 there was a congregation known as the Trenton Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and there have been two name changes since then. In 1939, we became known as Trenton Methodist Church; and in 1968 the Evangelical Brethren Church merged with the Methodist Church, and we became Trenton United Methodist Church. This Church acted as a relief center at the beginning for the entire town and community. However the life of a congregation cannot be told by a review of dates and building programs; the real life is contained in the individual lives touched by God’s grace and in the story of the corporate mission of the congregation as it seeks to live by faith.
Quarterly Conference records contain some rich accounts of grace and love in action. The oldest currently available record reports the election of Thomas J. Whitaker as Superintendent of the Trenton Sunday School on October 11, 1879. Mr. Whitaker and others kept this school open during the winter months when the norm was to shut down and wait for warmer weather. He would hold this post for many years, the last being in 1926. Other examples of congregational life are found in the following accounts: “Church house is paid in full with $45 set aside to paint the church house.” (1892); “ A more loyal and sacrificing people I have never met anywhere. Their goal is to bring up a clean sheet each year and they do it.” (Sept 27, 1924)
For several years Trenton United Methodist Church was part of a three-point charge. The other two churches were Oak Grove United Methodist Church and Maple Grove United Methodist Church. Oak Grove became a Methodist Church in 1879. The church membership grew until a World War II military base was built near the church, and membership began to decline. The Oak Grove members voted in 1983 to discontinue their services, and most of the members merged with Trenton. Those members have been a blessing to the Trenton Church. They have added energy, service, commitment, and a new dimension to Trenton Church. Maple Grove began as a “free church.” Following an extended revival in about 1895, several persons were baptized, and others transferred their membership to form what became Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 2013 Maple Grove merged with Trenton, and those members also have added to the life and service of Trenton United Methodist Church.
Trenton Methodist Church is fondly known as a “praying church,” and we often get requests to add family and non-members of the community to our prayer list. We have an active Sunday School, choir, youth program, and a Food Pantry. The Food Pantry has free food available for those who need it every Saturday morning. The church suffered flood devastation when Hurricane Florence visited in September 2018. We had rebuilt and returned for worship service in the fellowship hall when Covid-19 appeared, and repairs to the sanctuary were completed while we were having services in the parking lot or online. Many normally scheduled gatherings have been canceled or curtailed because of the pandemic. With God’s blessing, we shall return to abundant service to God and our community.
FORMER PASTORS OF JONES CIRCUIT AND TRENTON CHARGE
| PASTOR | FROM | TIL | REMARKS |
| John M Gunn | 1858 | 1859 | Circuit Rider-Jones Circuit formed 1858 til 1948 |
| F J Eatman | 1860 | 1861 | (Circuit Riders continued to travel til 1883) |
| G G Hines | 1861 | 1862 | |
| William M Walsh | 1863 | 1864 | |
| R P Bibb | 1868 | 1869 | |
| E A Howland | 1869 | 1870 | |
| J J Carden | 1870 | 1871 | |
| James Willson | 1871 | 1873 | |
| W H Cunninggim | 1873 | 1874 | |
| N A Hooker | 1874 | 1876 | |
| Jeremiah Johnson | 1876 | 1878 | |
| William H Puckett | 1878 | 1882 | Deceased 1912-buried in Trenton Cemetery |
| L L Johnson | 1882 | 1883 | 1st parsonage for Jones Circuit built 1883 |
| Alexander D Betts | 1883 | 1886 | 1st pastor to live in Trenton Parsonage |
| J F Washburn | 1887 | 1888 | Land deeded for Trenton Church(along S side of parsonage) |
| Lawrence O Wyche | 1888 | 1889 | |
| I A White | 1889 | 1890 | Trenton Church completed. Married Ms Johnnie Heritage |
| Robert B Gilliam | 1890 | 1893 | died during appointment in 1893 & buried in Trenton cemetary |
| William B Lee | 1893 | 1896 | Brazil missionary |
| Henry E Tripp | 1895 | 1896 | deceased 1923 & Buried in Trenton cemetery |
| J M Benson | 1897 | 1900 | deceased 1919. Maple Grove church built |
| Daniel C Geddie | 1900 | 1904 | |
| F S Becton | 1904 | 1906 | New parsonage built beside church |
| John M Wright | 1907 | 1908 | 1st to live in parsonage-deceased 1940 |
| Philip Greening | 1908 | 1910 | |
| R D Daniel | 1910 | 1911 | Left the ministry |
| Charles Edward Vale | 1911 | 1914 | died 1918 & buried in Trenton cemetery. Born in England |
| C T Rogers | 1915 | 1919 | 1st to own a car-Model T Ford |
| Charles A Jones | 1919 | 1921 | Oak Grove Church land purchased & church built |
| K F DuVal | 1921 | 1924 | sanctuary enlarged & 2 classrooms added 1922 |
| H L Davis | 1924 | 1925 | |
| J C Whedbee | 1925 | 1926 | deceased 1948 |
| Elijah L Stack | 1926 | 1927 | deceased 1951 |
| T W Lee | 1927 | 1931 | |
| P O Lee | 1931 | 1933 | |
| J D Young | 1934 | 1935 | |
| F B Brandenburg | 1936 | 1939 | Merged to form the Methodist Church |
| W G Lowe | 1939 | 1941 | Trenton Womans Society of Christian Service chartered 1940 |
| Ernest G Cowan | 1941 | 1944 | Deceased 1960 |
| John R Poe | 1944 | 1946 | |
| W E Howard | 1946 | 1948 | Jones circuit became Trenton Circuit 1948 |
| Charles B Long | 1949 | 1953 | |
| Joseph J Grimes | 1953 | 1954 | 1st pastor of 3-point charge. Circuit divided into 2 Charges |
| Lewis A Dillman | 1954 | 1959 | Church enlarged & heating system installed |
| Walton N Bass | 1959 | 1963 | Compiled booklet “ Methodism in J C” |
| John E Wood | 1963 | 1967 | |
| Ivey J Wall | 1967 | 1968 | Merged to become the United Methodist Church |
| Paul E Oldaker | 1968 | 1970 | Became Trenton United Methodist Church |
| L Ray Sparrow | 1970 | 1971 | |
| James H Coile | 1971 | 1976 | Parsonage willed to Trenton 1976.Old one sold & moved |
| Bobby Smith | 1976 | 1980 | 1st to live in new parsonage |
| J Neal Salter JR | 1980 | 1983 | Oak Grove discontinued (Razed in 1993) |
| John R Woodard JR | 1983 | 1990 | Whitaker Hall added 1987 |
| Charlene H Pierce-Guider | 1990 | 1998 | 1st Female Pastor |
| Billy A Olsen | 1999 | 2000 | Building damaged by Flood Floyd 1999 |
| Worley Knowles | 2000 | 2001 | Deceased during appointment |
| Peg O Witt | 2001 | 2006 | Retired during appointment |
| Elva L “Bud” Morton III | 2007 | 2012 | Retired during appointment. Died 2016 |
| Bettie Francis | 2012 | 2016 | Maple Grove closed & building sold 2015 |
| Leo Fair | 2016 | 2021 | Flood damaged by Hurricane Florence 2018 |
| Heejun Yang | 2021 | 2022 | 1st Asian/immigrant/Ph.D pastor |
| Joan Fischer | 2022 |
Trenton MC 