General Info:
Trinity Temple SDA Church History This document contains a revision of the original Church History printed in the 1988 Church Directory and additions made by the current church historians. Trinity Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church, now located in the heart of Newark's Central Ward, has a long and colorful history that spans nearly a century. Organized in the early 1900s, the first meetings were held on Chestnut Street at member's home in 1922. The group relocated to Rutgers Street around the time that Elder Durant led the congregation as pastor. Membership growth warranted the need for a new building. With approximately 300 members and under the leadership of Elder Wilmot Fordham, the group purchased a property at 308 Bergen Street for $22, 000 in 1923. Church leaders in the 1920s and 1930s included Elder Campbell, John Wagner, Sr. (1930 - 1935), and Harvey W. Kibble, Sr. (1935 - 1941). Other church officers included, Elders: Prothro, Coburn, and Gray; Deacons: Joe Louis, McMillian, Ellington, Brown, and Baker; Deaconesses: Simmons, Smalley, Ponder, Williams; and Choir Directors: Geneva Carter and Cora Brown. During Pastor Harvey Kibble's tenure the church established a one-classroom school in a building attached to the sanctuary. At that time Ms. Florence Williamson served the school as both teacher and principle. As the student roster grew more grades were added and other teachers joined Ms. Williamson, including Ms. Vera Bradford Braxton, Ms. C. Cluff, Ms. Josephine McQuerry, and Ms. Goldie Petress. Trinity's growth continued, and it outgrew its current location. Now under the leadership of Pastor Jethro Lester, a site was purchased at 35 Hillside Street to be Trinity's new home. A number of years passed before the dream of building the new sanctuary was realized, during which John Wagner, Jr. and Leon Cox served as Trinity's pastors. Finally, while the church was under the leadership of Pastor Paul Cantrell, not only was the building completed the mortgage was also paid off! Now under the leadership of Pastor John E. Collins, the church continued its work in the community by preaching the gospel, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. After Elder Collins the congregation was led by Elder John Wright for four years. During that time more emphasis was put on Christian education, and a new building was purchased in Hillside, New Jersey at 1500 Maple Avenue, Trinity Temple Academy's home to this day. Elder Charles Joseph arrived at Trinity in 1976, and soon engaged in a construction project aimed at building a new sanctuary. Properties north of the Hillside Avenue location were acquired, and plans were in place to commence building the new church. But Elder Joseph's tenure came to an abrupt end; nevertheless, the work continued under the leadership of his successor, Pastor Alvin M. Kibble. Pastor Alvin Kibble joined us in September 1977, and hit the ground running. He developed a plan that included the retirement of the school mortgage and giving to a Church Building Fund. Additional properties were secured; the existing church was renovated; and by faith a large parking lot was built to accommodate both the existing church and the new sanctuary soon to be built. After Pastor Alvin Kibble Trinity Temple was led by Pastor S. Peter Campbell, who came to us in July 1986. In September 1984 Pastor Campbell called a meeting where he challenged the church to raise $50, 000 in addition to the $42, 000 it already had in its Church Building Fund in order to pay off a $90, 000 loan against church properties. The church got to work, and within two months, in December 1984, the debt was paid in full! Now that the church was debt-free, the members were driven to raise $70, 000 by May 1985. That same year Pastor Campbell presented architectural drawings, financial plans and a loan request to the Allegheny East Conference Executive Committee for review and approval. The Committee approved the plans, the Columbia Union Revolvi