OUR HISTORY

One hundred and eighty years ago, Trinity Church was built on Pleasant Street, the result of hard work and careful planning on the part of the "Episcopal Society of Saco." The church was consecrated on November 20, 1827. Today it is the oldest original church building in Saco and the third oldest in the Diocese of Maine. Even with its rich history, it is not the first church in the area. There once was an Anglican Church, built on the banks of the Saco River in the mid-1600's, and established via Royal Charter by King Charles I.

As the congregation on Pleasant Street grew, so did the church complex. Near the turn of the century, a small parish house was built on land adjoining the church and, a few years later, a house on Beach Street was purchased and enlarged for a rectory. This home was later sold when a house abutting the church was willed to the parish.

Trinity Episcopal Church spread its influence beyond the limits of Saco during the late 1800's and early 1900's. The church helped establish missions in Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach and Waterboro.

By the mid-1950s the church found itself cramped between a steam laundry and a noisy, dirty coal pit. Parking became a serious problem when riders outnumbered walkers.

In 1957 the congregation decided to purchase a Victorian house on Cleveland Street with enough land to build a new church. At the time, parking was allowed on both sides of Main Street. Architectural renderings were made for a modern structure. Still, many members wanted to keep the old building. Finally with great faith and little money, the Vestry voted to move the old church to the new location. This proved to be an enormous undertaking. The church was too high to pass under utility lines, so special poles were erected and trees pruned to facilitate the move. The church was divided into sections with the two major structures weighing 40,000 pounds each.

The moving day, December 4, 1959 proved to be very cold, so the women of the parish served hot coffee to the workers, volunteers and curious bystanders. Church services were held in the Victorian house next door while the church was renovated. There was much interior work to be done. The old pews were re-assembled and anchored to the cement floor. Each pane of glass in the windows was removed, cleaned and puttied back in place. The old pipe organ was dismantled and sold, and the choir returned to the singer's gallery. The first services were not held until the following Easter.

Slowly, additional buildings were added. A new parish house was built behind the church in 1969 and six years later, a new foyer and lounge connected the church to the parish house. The old Victorian rectory was sold in 1984.  Today, the parish house is busy with many church functions such as dinners, Bible studies, parish fairs, youth activities, and Vacation Bible School. The Youth Ministry is very strong and the Church School Programs are expanding. In addition, outside organizations also use the church property. In 1997 an elevator was added to the parish house, making all the buildings handicapped accessible