Trinity Methodist Church

Our postal address is Trinity Methodist Church, Fleet Street, Pemberton; our “Parish” address, so to speak, is Trinity Methodist Church, Lamberhead Green and it is on Lamberhead Green that we start, with the first Wesleyan Methodists in 1776.

After meeting in homes for some years Wesleyans in Lamberhead Green got their first Chapel in 1790 and their first Sunday School in 1796 in the same building as the Chapel. By 1820 both Chapel and Sunday School had outgrown themselves and a new Chapel was built in front of the old one.  The Sunday School took over the whole of the old building.

In the second half of the nineteenth century there were further changes on “The Green”.  The Wesleyans moved to a new site in Fleet Street building both a day school and a Chapel; the “Wesleyan Chapel and Atherton Schools”.  The school was named after Rev. William Atherton (1776-1850) of Lamberhead Green, in his time President of the Methodist Conference and Solicitor General of England, with a large part of the building costs being met by his son, Sir William Atherton MP.  Typically, for the times, the school had two entrances, one for girls and one for boys.  The fact that both doors opened into the same room obviously bothered nobody.

The Wesleyans old Chapel premises were first rented, and then bought, by the Primitive Methodists who later, in 1902, moved to a site in Woodford Street, Pemberton. At about the same time as the Wesleyans moved a new church, The Methodist Free Church, was being established in the area and they built premises in Loch Street, Pemberton, providing both Chapel and Sunday School. Expanding congregations at the Wesleyan Chapel meant re-designing the interior in 1880, turning most of it through 180 degrees and adding a Band Room and Minister’s Vestry.

In the twentieth century things have changed again.  Methodist Union in 1932 brought the three strands of the Church into “The Methodist Church” and, with three church buildings within 200 yards of one another, the problem of over-provision would have to be faced despite old loyalties and old traditions.

The first step was a joint Youth Club established in 1939 but the crucial event was the re-arranging of the Circuits in 1955.  Instead of three circuits, three churches and three ministers there was now only one circuit and one minister.  One church seemed the next logical step.

In 1960 the nettle was grasped and an amalgamation committee was set up with representatives from all three churches.  From the existing premises available, the Wesleyan building was chosen (after much discussion) as the best (i.e. most central) location and amalgamation began in earnest.  In order to make the church buildings feel new for everyone the interior of the Wesleyan Chapel was re-designed again and turned back to the way it was originally built with the communion rail at the front and the Memorial Chapel at the back.  Pews were brought from Woodford Street.  The Church Organ was moved and a new vestry added.  A new entrance was created by adding a foyer and a passageway to link the school building to the Chapel to make the whole thing one building.  Just as importantly the name was changed and the church became TRINITY Methodist Church; three churches into one just as the Holy Trinity is three into one.

The new Church and Chapel were opened and Dedicated during the weekend of 12th & 13th May 1962 and have remained essentially the same ever since apart from the occasional refurbishment of the interior.  In 1998 woodworm and dry rot in the wooden floor and pews combined to necessitate the complete refurbishment of the Chapel.  New floors, new carpets, new decorating and chairs instead of pews give us a bright, modern and flexible Church looking forward to the twenty-first century

In 2001 the schoolroom was refurbished by a team of dedicated volunteers. It has now a new wooden floor, which keeps the Line and Sequence dancers very happy and has had a full redecoration. It is a bright and modern room for all ocassions.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our Mission is that we are here to proclaim the love of God to all people, by word and deed, worship and service.  Our aims therefore are to nurture and care for all our members and friends and to serve the community’s needs as we are able.

Activities

We have regular activities at Trinity as well as the occasional special event.  They  include:

Sundays:    Morning Worship 10.45 am
Mondays: Singing Group 7.30 pm
Tuesdays: Tuesday Friends Fortnightly
Wednesdays: Mums and Toddlers - 1.15pm term time
Wednesday Fellowship 7.30 pm fortnightly.
Thursdays: Weekly Men's leisure club
Fridays: Friday Club for 4-10 year olds 6.00 pm  Term time
Saturdays: Coffee Shop 10.00 am till 12 noon

We also try to serve the community by holding other activities such as the following:
Friendship Lunches – held every four weeks on Mondays
Blood Donors – use our premises regularly

Some of the rooms in the Church are available for hire and details are as follows:

The large Hall is available at the following charges: 
Morning...£30.00
Afternoon £30.00
Evening   £35.00
Usage of Kitchen £6.00

Middle Room and Band Room: £20.00 per session

Please contact Trinity on 01942-221484

The members of our Church practice Christian Stewardship.  In a nutshell this means promoting the Word and work of God and Jesus Christ outside the Church and in the Community but also discovering the gifts and skills of our congregation and using them in a positive way.  We regularly review our Time and Talents and how they can best be used in serving both Church and Community.

The hall, over the years it has seen Drama, Choirs, Brass Bands and, on one memorable occasion, a Rock Band.  The Band then led the service the following morning.  It was different at least!  It’s also been used as a film location for a small independent group making a film about young people going through drug rehabilitation.

The Church has both disabled access and an inductive loop System.