| 3151 Union Avenue . San Jose . CA 95124 . 408-377-8930 . info@trinitypresbyteriansj.org |
of San Jose
Trinity Presbyterian Church was founded on June 23, 1957 with about 125 charter
members. Services were initially held in the home of Marylynn and Richard Rush, then
moved to the "We and Our Neighbors" building on the corner of Union Avenue and Los
Gatos-Almaden Road.
The founding pastor, pictured at the right, was Dr. John R. Chandler. Rev. Chandler
founded two churches, Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Diego in 1951 and Trinity
Presbyterian Church in San Jose in 1957.
Trinity Presbyterian Church was founded on June 23, 1957 with about 125 charter
members. Services were initially held in the home of Marylynn and Richard Rush, then
moved to the "We and Our Neighbors" building on the corner of Union Avenue and Los
Gatos-Almaden Road.
The founding pastor, pictured at the right, was Dr. John R. Chandler. Rev. Chandler
founded two churches, Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Diego in 1951 and Trinity
Presbyterian Church in San Jose in 1957.
| Construction was complete in 1959 as shown on the cornerstone, and members were soon filling the sanctuary for Sunday worship. On June 20, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a telegram to congratulate friends and members on the completion of the church. That telegram is pictured below. |
Timeline of Trinity Leaderships
June 23, 1957 through December 31, 1962 -- Rev. John R. Chandler. During this period, 963 people joined Trinity.
Rev. Morris Jewell, Dr. Paul S. Heath, and Rev. Richard S. Chiolis were associate pastors.
June 24, 1964 through December 27, 1970 -- Rev. Frank E. Havens
October 3, 1971 through September 30, 1977 -- Rev. Aahmes E. Overton. Rev. Steven M. Hanna was Associate
Pastor from June 24, 1973 until July 24, 1980.
October 3, 1977 through September 1, 1978 --Rev. Ben F. Janes served as Interim Pastor. He donated the grand
piano that is currently in Trinity's sanctuary.
September 1, 1978 through Easter (April 2009) -- Rev. Jack C. Longley.
- He served with Rev. David Dehaan, Assistant Pastor from July 8, 1979 to January 31, 1981;
- Dr. Steven R. Swanson, Associate Pastor from July 19, 1982 to July 31, 1986;
- Revs. Lynell and Rob Caudillo, Assistant Pastors from June 28, 1981 to June 30, 1983;
- Rev T. Royal Scott, Parish Associate from March 1, 1986 to September 7, 1992;
- Rev. Thomas N. Waddell, Parish Associate from July 1, 1992, to June 14, 2004;
- and Rev. Don Hammond, from January 2005 to 2008.
Also serving with Rev. Longley were youth leaders Mike Garner, Greg Anderson, Fritz Moga, Danny Franklin, Vincent
Arishvara, and Ryan Tally.
July 2009 - Present - Rev. Lyle Schmidt - Interim Pastor
June 23, 1957 through December 31, 1962 -- Rev. John R. Chandler. During this period, 963 people joined Trinity.
Rev. Morris Jewell, Dr. Paul S. Heath, and Rev. Richard S. Chiolis were associate pastors.
June 24, 1964 through December 27, 1970 -- Rev. Frank E. Havens
October 3, 1971 through September 30, 1977 -- Rev. Aahmes E. Overton. Rev. Steven M. Hanna was Associate
Pastor from June 24, 1973 until July 24, 1980.
October 3, 1977 through September 1, 1978 --Rev. Ben F. Janes served as Interim Pastor. He donated the grand
piano that is currently in Trinity's sanctuary.
September 1, 1978 through Easter (April 2009) -- Rev. Jack C. Longley.
- He served with Rev. David Dehaan, Assistant Pastor from July 8, 1979 to January 31, 1981;
- Dr. Steven R. Swanson, Associate Pastor from July 19, 1982 to July 31, 1986;
- Revs. Lynell and Rob Caudillo, Assistant Pastors from June 28, 1981 to June 30, 1983;
- Rev T. Royal Scott, Parish Associate from March 1, 1986 to September 7, 1992;
- Rev. Thomas N. Waddell, Parish Associate from July 1, 1992, to June 14, 2004;
- and Rev. Don Hammond, from January 2005 to 2008.
Also serving with Rev. Longley were youth leaders Mike Garner, Greg Anderson, Fritz Moga, Danny Franklin, Vincent
Arishvara, and Ryan Tally.
July 2009 - Present - Rev. Lyle Schmidt - Interim Pastor