Trinity's History

Trinity Presbyterian Church, San Carlos, has a rich history of loving and caring for people of all nations, tribes, languages, creeds and sexual orientations over the course of our 70 years as a congregation. That history of perfect love and care has been tattered by the fallen world and our limitations as humans. But this is where our Presbyterian tradition of being "reformed and always reforming" is constantly teaching us to go deeper into the kind of love and care for all that God has shown the world in Jesus.


Trinity Presbyterian Church started with mainly families with young children. Trinity Presbyterian Preschool 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 preschool which serves approximately 150 families. Jenny Waddell is serving as the current Director. The church and preschool are looking forward to a deeper relationship with local families in the years ahead with opportunities to learn, have fun and serve.


Trinity has also built a reputation for having a strong music program with praise music and choirs for all ages and great instruments such as the pipe organ and many octaves of bells. Our music is led by singer and songwriter Steven Hall, Director of Music Ministries, and many of our gifted volunteers. Worship is the heart of our mission with superb preaching, electronic media and liturgical art which creatively engages 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. Confirmation classes are held every other year.  And we have weekly offerings for youth, children and families.


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. Visit here for more information and for first-time visitors visit here. 


Trinity is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The PC(USA) has over 8,800 congregations and over 1.19 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. We called our current pastor, David Jahnke, in 2024.


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.