They can put new stained glass inside the old sanctuary.
But the same spiritual light still shines through.
Much refurbishing has been done at Trinity Presbyterian Church, mostly during the last decade.
The reconstruction of Fellowship Hall. The exterior upgrades. The new pews that make a house of worship a home.
But during the past 95 years, nothing seemingly changed about the church’s spiritual worship service, said 81-year-old Lorraine Gardner, a church member.
"We’ve done a lot of upgrading since the old days … but it’s still a spiritual service. That hasn’t changed," Gardner said.
During its yearlong 95th anniversary, the church will culminate the merriment with a banquet at Victor’s Chateau in Little Falls this Saturday, Oct. 18.
"We sent out announcements to everyone we could find who was a former member, and so many people came back," said Gardner, an anniversary committee co-chair.
The past year has been a busy one, planning several activities and a reunion that was held in January, Gardner said.
"We’ve come this far by faith," is the official theme for the anniversary celebration.
A small church with less than 150 members, some of its followers have attended Trinity Presbyterian for their entire lives.
Leila D. Gaines, a member since 1923, and others such as Eva F. McNeal and Nellie B. Hubbard, have been church members for more than half a century, witnessing fellow members endure the Great Depression, the world at war, the Civil Rights movement and other historical milestones.
Trinity’s involvement and contributions throughout the century have been chronicled in a yearlong research project spearheaded by its 95th Anniversary Committee, chaired by members Hubbard and Gardner. Additionally this year, the committee held a Church School reunion and debuted a jazz vespers series, the first of which featured recording artist, pianist and composer Gerri Allen. The church’s teen group produced a video of the church history with the help of local Montclair station TV34.
"We have been blessed with a rich heritage and an involved membership, and we have been a part of the very fabric and history of our community for many decades," said Hubbard. "We hope and pray that Trinity continues making an impact in Montclair for generations to come."
The church was founded in 1913 by Francis Valentine and a group of local Presbyterian women, who established its first home in Bloomfield.
In 1948, under the pastoral direction of the Rev. Lincoln McGhee, the church moved to its current stone Tudor edifice at the corner of Orange Road and High Street in Montclair, and into the heart of the township’s 4th Ward.
The church immediately became part of the cornerstone of the African-American community and later worked to build strong, broad relationships throughout Montclair under the leadership of the Rev. Archie L. Hargraves.
"Trinity’s mission today is to follow in the footsteps of its founders and past leadership in providing spiritual guidance and enrichment to Montclair area residents," said the Rev. Allen Shelton, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
"It’s designed to help people discover through the Christian worship experience, educate them to be disciples through devotion, prayer and Bible study, and enable them to become active stewards. We have been blessed with innovations to our ministry, and we continue to implement original programming to prepare our church to meet the challenges of ministry in this new era," Shelton told The Times.
Steadfast in the tradition of community involvement, the church currently runs several community outreach programs. For more than seven years, the church has served as a site for the Montclair Public Schools STARS (Service To At-Risk Students) program, an academic enrichment tutorial program of kindergarten- through-2nd grade students attending Nishuane School.
The church also has been a major proponent of the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Project Oasis, a summer enrichment program for high school students.
Tickets to the 95th Anniversary Banquet are $65 for adults and $25 for children under 12. For ticket information and more information on church programs, contact Trinity Presbyterian Church at 973-744-3396.
