History: 100th Anniversary of the present building

Headlines in the local paper announced Trinity's Centennial and stated "242 Years' Progress of the Swedish Church and Its Episcopal Successor". The description of the church was that the "Gloucester and Salem Turnpike (King's Highway) passes in front and continues as Main Street of the busy and populous town". It further notes that the building is "shaded by tall maple, buttonwood and cedar trees" while "from the belfry of the massive steeple," it commands a "wide and beautiful view of the surrounding country while dark green ivy has climbed its wall, the heavy box wood shrubs have flourished in its shade and shelter and the sandstone and marble slabs which mark the graves of its early founders and attendants have grown moss-covered and dun with age or have crumbled in decay". The cemetery is described as a "city underground" and the present day church a benefactor from their "pioneer efforts".

Celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the present building were held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 28-30 as set apart by the Convocation of Burlington. (Note: we are now part of the Woodbury Convocation.) Large congregations were in attendance and special services were appointed. Bishop Scarborough presided, with Rev. Morgan Hill, Dean of Burlington Convocation. "More than a score of surpliced clergymen occupied the front pews and the chairs of the chancel" It is reported that the "solemn ritual service of the church was dispensed each day in the most impressive manner; and the beautiful interior of this commodious and venerable sanctuary of worship never presented so animated a spectacle". The rector of St. Mary's, Burlington, read a memorial paper giving a full account of the Church of England in Central and Southern Jersey up to the time of the Revolutionary War. Wednesday and Thursday were devoted to centennial exercises. The Rev. Hoskins, rector of Trinity, "preached a memorial sermon on the founding of the parish by the Swedish government and its transfer to the Episcopal Church". Rev. E.B. Boggs, D.D., "a much revered pastor of Trinity some thirty years ago, made a few appropriate remarks in honor of the past and the occasion." It is also reported that "many of the visitors partook of the bountiful catering of the ladies which was tastefully arrayed on the many tables which occupied the entire floor of the Sunday School building on the opposite side of the street."

In Hoskins' sermon, he notes that "the building is almost unchanged in appearance and appointments". He stated that "it is a matter of lasting honor to the Swedish government that the first colony sent had its Christian pastor". Although the Dutch and English occupied the settlements at various times, the religious interest of the people were not forgotten. In his talk, Hoskins gives a "sketch" of each pastor who served the church, both Swedish Lutheran and Episcopal. He notes an unfortunate break in the records between 1813 and 1820 when the records were "mutilated by some evil, dissatisfied person who entered the house in the absence of the Rector. His talk describes the improvements to the property of the parish; rectory, barn and farms during the tenure of various rectors. The major changes to the interior of the church came around the time of the building of the steeple in 1838-1839. "A vestibule (foyer) was built; the old pulpit was moved back; and instead of a middle aisle the pews were so arranged as to have side aisles." Hoskins points out that "the parish was also honored in 1830 by being the place of meeting for the Convention of the Diocese".

He chronicles the pastors and their trials and tribulations while serving at Trinity. Hoskins describes one such event as "relations between the rector and the vestry were of an increasingly unpleasant character; and, after a struggle, which must have been costly to the prosperity of the parish, it ended in the departure of the rector." In some cases, the rectors died while serving at Trinity. Rev. Charles Chevrier was one case. The stained glass window over the altar is given in his memory.

Hoskins says "reading between the lines, as it were, in the meetings of the vestries, there may be seen the evil and the good. He reflects that he has studied page after page of the old records and been impressed by several marks of change in the attitude and spirit of the congregation. He comments that "we must charitably construe the acts and apparent motives on the one side and commend the virtues and labors of the other".

Certain changes in the hundred year are evident he notes: First, decline in the size of the congregation. "Once this was the only place of worship for an extent of the country and as a consequence, a hundred years ago there were more baptisms, marriages and funerals recorded in one year than now appear in ten." Second, "there is also a manifest decline in the value placed upon the ordinances of Christ's Church; whereas one hundred years ago, an adult baptism in the midst of the vast number of infant baptism was a rare event, in the last thirty or forty years the experience is all the other way".

He ended his sermon with the following admonition. "As you consider the days of old, you, upon whom the life and prosperity of this parish now depends, remember your duty and the divine opportunity granted you". He asked that the listeners, there to celebrate the 100 years of the building, would "make fruitful this part of Christ's vineyard. In the midst of a changeful world, witness by the daily habit of your lives to the unseen, eternal and unchangeable which lies beyond." His comments remain true today – 119 years later.