Trinity United Methodist Church is one of Bellefonte’s most visually prominent houses of worship, and yet the history of the congregation stretches back so far that the building at the corner of Howard and Spring streets is actually the third church.
This year Trinity is celebrating 200 years as an organized congregation, with a huge celebration for the whole community scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 23.
Pastor Chris Passante and member John Wilson joked that the whole weekend wasn’t going to be “churchy,” and that everyone is welcome to come have a hot dog, enjoy a free concert and attend a Sunday service welcoming back the pastors that have served congregation in the past.
Wilson said the congregation has enjoyed numerous events so far this year to celebrate 200 years of worship, with an opening service, the return of the Easter variety show and Logan Fire Company parade.
A free concert in the sanctuary will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 featuring Debbie Trudeau and Jonathan Dexter of the Allegria Ensemble. On Saturday, Trinity is hosting a free community picnic on the lawn starting at noon, with the Bellefonte Community Band to perform at 2 p.m. Children’s events will run from noon to 2 p.m.
Sunday will have a celebration worship service at 9:30 a.m., when the congregation will welcome back pastors who have served the church. Immediately following will be a catered lunch. Anyone wishing to enjoy lunch after the service is asked to RSVP by Aug. 31.
Passante is in his third year as pastor at Trinity, and he said he’s seen great things happen in the last couple of years.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth in our congregation numbers, in our operating budget, in our missions, in our outreach,” he said.
As a sort of “downtown-centric” church, Passante and Wilson said they’ve worked hard to be inviting and open their doors to the community. But they’ve also reflected as a congregation.
“When I first came here, we committed to praying for this church and seeing where God can lead us and focus a lot on who it is we serve, who is our community?” Passante said.
“We’re a small congregation, but we do a lot, and we want to do more,” Wilson said.
Richard Bell and his wife, Mary Ann, have been a part of the congregation since 1959. Many would know him as Coach Bell for his years of basketball and football coaching at Bellefonte High School.
Bell reiterated what many come to love about church congregations: That he’s felt a great sense of community and had many close friends at Trinity.
During tough times, Bell said the other members are there to support him and remind him that everything will be OK.
The Methodists have the second-oldest active church in Bellefonte, with the First Presbyterian Church just across the street claiming that title. Both are visually striking as visitors to Bellefonte come over the hill on Spring Street toward the town’s Victorian district as the buildings rise multiple stories, feature 19th-century brickwork and large stained-glass windows. In total, there are eight active congregations in Bellefonte from the 1800s.
Trinity’s roots date to April 1817, when a congregation met in the home of James McGee at the corner of Allegheny and Bishop streets, according to a history written by J. Karen Arnold. The first building was finished in 1822 along East High Street and North Penn Street.
That building was eventually razed to make way for a new structure in 1853, with Methodists using it until 1876. It burned in 2001.
The congregation decided to leave the building in the 1875 and build the current church as it can be seen today at 128 W. Howard St., with construction completed in July 1876.
The Hook & Hastings pipe organ installed in 1901 is still used at the church, and at one time was powered by a water engine in the basement. The control rod ran up a faux support post unseen. It was replaced by an electric blower in 1941, and replaced again during a restoration in 1991.
Older photos will show a prominent steeple above the bell tower, but this was removed in 1920 after another steeple collapsed in a winter storm years earlier at a different church.
The church’s education building was added in 1962 and now houses the offices and a thriving day care and after-school education center.
