About Us...
Trinity United has gone through many changes in its history. We are still changing. Being a
"bedroom" community to Toronto, we have a transient as well as a commuter population so
there are always new ideas to consider, new people to meet, new talents to discover and
use, new experiences to engage in. Of course this does cause some problems for it means
that there is usually someone in church on Sunday morning whom we don't know and who
doesn't know us and we have to try to meld traditional ways of doing things with the new
ideas presented to us. However, it presents us with a challenge and we welcome that. We
are known as a friendly congregation and it doesn't take long before new people are being
introduced and are introducing themselves.
Trinity's History
The first formal "Methodist" service happened in the spring of 1828. The text was Romans
7:24.
In July 1844, Acton was created as a Methodist appointment for a regular Sunday service.
1844 is considered our 'founding" date. At that time Georgetown was had of the circuit with
Acton and four other appointments. In 1872, Acton was named as the head of a new circuit.
The first Methodist Church building in Acton was completed in 1850. The old record books
reveal that this first Methodist Church was built by settlers "by their own hands". It was based
on barn construction plans that the builders would be familiar with. The trees for the lumber
and shingles were given free of charge by the band of men who were chosen trustees. This
timber was the best of clear pine selected from the famous pine forests of Esquesing
Township. The work was done entirely by bees (not honey bees!).
A driving shed, which was added not long after, was made of pine. Angus Kennedy, who was
a noted carpenter in Acton's earliest days, was given the contract for the carpentry work for
the bu9ilding. He was paid 50 pounds for his work. The contract did not include plastering,
painting or pews. Understandably, this first church had financial difficulties; the members did
not plaster, paint of add pews until a year after the official opening in February, 1852.
A much larger brick church was erected in 1875 at a cost of $7,000.00. This building was our
home until 1959, when it was condemned.
The present church was finished in 1960 and was officially dedicated on November 13, 1960.
Our organ was originally installed in Berkeley Methodist Church in Toronto. Since moving it to
Acton, it has been enlarged and refurbished.
This abbreviated history, by Ross Knechtel, has been excerpted from the book "The History of the United Church in Acton" - by Kay Dills.