Trinity's History

Trinity is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The PC(USA) has over 10,000 congregations and over 1.7 million members in the United States. Trinity was founded in the 1950's in San Carlos. Several dedicated pastors have led Trinity's congregation. William Summerscales was Trinity's first installed pastor. He was followed by Robert Clapham in 1961. John Shriver in 1972,  Edward Ewart in 1979, Mary Graves in 1996.  And in 2019 Mary Graves and Kurt Heineman were called to lead Trinity as Co-Pastors.


Over the years, Trinity has built a reputation of caring for people of all ages. The church started with mainly families with young children. Trinity Presbyterian Nursery School was founded by Rosemary Smith, who served as the Director for 40 years. She retired in 1998 and Jamie Holden stepped in as the new Director of the co-op nursery school which serves approximately 150 families. Jenny Waddell is serving as the current Director. 

Trinity has also built a reputation for having a strong music program with choirs for all ages and great instruments such as the pipe organ and the many octaves of bells. It is led by staff and gifted volunteer leaders. Worship is a highlight with superb preaching, liturgical art, use of electronic media and creative engagement of all ages. Youth programs for all school age students attract young people throughout the community to Trinity. The Youth Mexico Mission Trip in the spring has become a highlight for high school students. It involves dozens of adult volunteers and high school students working together on fundraisers for the annual trip to build houses in partnership with Amor Ministries. Adults at Trinity are offered a variety of study experiences mainly through small groups which launched with the 40 Days of Purpose in 2004.  

The majority of the congregation is involved at Trinity in various ways from serving coffee to preaching in worship. Dedicated Elders, Deacons, team leaders, advisors, teachers, and other servants form policy, lead ministry teams, teach our youth, and care for our congregation.  Ministry team members are the backbone of all programs and events. Even with our rich history, we are still surprised at what happens when we are willing to be lead by the Spirit in ministry. 

Land Acknowledgement

Trinity Presbyterian Church recognizes that we live on unceded land that was faithfully stewarded and kept by Indigenous Peoples for countless generations. The land in the Bay Area that touches our feet was once populated by the Chochenyo, Ramaytush, Muwekma and Bay Miwok Peoples. We acknowledge that the land was taken from these First Nation Peoples with violence and without treaty. We recognize the Ohlone Peoples survived over two centuries of genocide, enslavement and colonization and that this was often done under the cover of Christianity and the Doctrine of Discovery; we lament this misuse of our religion to oppress and kill. We pay our respects to the Indigenous Elders, past, present and future. We honor their ongoing work aimed at recognition and their fight to recover that relationship with the land we are privileged to walk upon.