HISTORY OF TRENTON
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
In the early days before the Methodist in this community had a church home, this work was known as the Trenton Mission, 1868. In 1872 William Alexander was appointed as pastor. During his second year on the Trenton and Shiloh Mission, he led the people of Trenton into their first building program. In the summer of 1873, the Methodists purchased a lot in
Trenton. This site is the same one on which the sanctuary of the church is now located. It was dedicated May 30, 1874. In 1906 the frame church was sold to L. Stack to make way for a new church. In 1906 Trenton Methodist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Kilgore began to make final plans for the er****on of a new church of brick construction. The church was built about 1907 or 1908. During the summer of 1932, the brick church burned. Rev. A. Schanzenbacher was pastor. 1932 W. W. Ashby was assigned to the Trenton and Fairview Circuit. When he arrived, the congregation had a temporary home in the Trenton School. In 1933 Rev. Ashby along with the congregation decided to raise funds to dig a basement. Many weeks of hard work, the basement was completed at a cost of $1,800. Cy Hutcherson came to pastor the church in 1934, followed by Rev. F. M. Glover in 1935. In 1938, The Rev. P. Booher came to be pastor for six years. While Rev. Booher was pastor the third church was completed in 1941, built out of natural limestone. The church was dedicated May 31, 1942. In 1952, Trenton became a station church. In 1957 the lot at the rear of the church was purchased. Early on the sub-zero Monday morning, February 3, 1958, the church was destroyed by fire. Lamar Mattingly was pastor when plans were made to build a fourth church. In August 1958 work began on the new church, and it was ready for occupancy on May 31, 1959. When completed, the new church was valued at $60,000. In November, 1962 plans were made for an addition. The annex for the accommodation of the Children’s Department was completed in March of 1963. Trenton United Methodist continues to worship in the red brick building built in 1958. The current front entrance and vestibule were renovated in 2013. We are presently a two church charge with Bell’s Chapel. Our current pastor is William Oliver.
