Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church

Trinity Memorial Church began in 1886. Grover Cleveland was the president of the United States. The City of Binghamton, with a population of 35,000, was expanding and prosperous. Binghamton was a major cigar manufacturing center. Times were good.

The Episcopal Church had its beginning in Binghamton earlier in the century. In 1810 a local group, led by Daniel Nash, established “The Episcopal Church of Chenango and Union.” Not long after, a house of worship was erected on Washington Street and the name “Christ Church” was adopted. The beautiful stone edifice of Christ Church that we know today was erected in 1853.

To meet the needs of Episcopal communicants residing on the south side of the Susquehanna River, the Church of the Good Shepherd was organized in 1870 as a mission of Christ Church.

Some 13 years later, a group of members of Christ Church met informally to consider the feasibility of forming another new parish, this one to be on the west side of the Chenango River. Three years later, in 1886, the time seemed right for this new venture.

On March 6, 1886 a group of twelve men and seven women met at the home of John Ray Clarke, a prominent businessman. Records tell us that Clarke stated the object of the meeting, calling attention to the large field for church work on the west side of the Chenango River, the number of church people residing there, and the lack of church accommodations. Those present responded enthusiastically in favor of the proposed new parish and a lot for the church on the northeast corner of Main and Oak Streets was offered by John Ray Clarke and James K. Welden. This was the beginning of Trinity Memorial Church.

On March 18, 1886, twelve days after the meeting at which a new parish was proposed and a building lot on the corner of Main and Oak Streets was offered, the group met again. It was decided to call the Rev. Sydney H. Cooke of Camden, New York, to take charge of the parish at an annual salary of $1,000.

The rector of Christ Church, the mother parish, gave permission for another parish to be established on the west side of the Chenango River, within the limits of the parish of Christ Church.

It was also decided at this meeting to organize the new parish under the name of Trinity Church. It was reported that plans for a chapel were already in the process of being drawn up.

At the next meeting, architect T. I. Lacey’s plans for the new chapel were adopted and a committee was appointed to find a place in which service might be held until the chapel was completed. A vacant store was available, but it was decided to hold services at the home of Byron Marks until the chapel was completed.

The first service was held on May 2, 1886 at the Marks home on Main Street, where American Legion Post 80 now stands. Pews, formerly used at the congregational church, were purchased for $63.75. A Sterling Organ was purchased for $85. Members of the parish gave a pulpit and lectern as memorials, as well as other essential pieces of church equipment and furniture. With impending expenses, it became necessary to establish a budget and a plan to raise money.

On May 12, 1886 the parish signed a Certificate of Incorporation and the first Vestry was elected, The unanimous choice for a name of the organization was “The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity Church, Binghamton, New York.” The Certificate of Incorporation was filed and recorded the next day—so May 13, 1886 may be said to be the official birth day of Trinity Church.

The first chapel was completed by Pentecost, 1886 and the first service was held in the new building on June 13, 1886 with the Rev. Cooke officiating. The following week, the first baptisms were held and the first marriage in the parish was celebrated a month later.

During the first year, Trinity grew and flourished. In February 1887, a class of 21 confirmands was presented to the bishop for confirmation. A lot adjacent to the church was purchased so the chapel could be enlarged. The budget for the first fiscal year was $1,858.78. In April 1887, the first church musician, Ernest Benjamin, was hired to lead the choir at a salary not to exceed $1.50 per week.

In the summer of 1887, the Rev. Cooke’s health began to fail. The church sorrowed over the untimely death of their first rector in March 1890; he died before the age of 40

The Rev. W. Henry Platt from Carbondale, Pennsylvania, was called to be Trinity’s second rector in May 1890. His salary was $1,500 plus rectory.

In August 1890, John Ray Clarke, one of the founding fathers of the parish died. Mr. Clarke had been the first Senior Warden of the church. James K. Welden was elected to fill Clarke’s term.

Mr. Platt died unexpectedly in the spring of 1893.

In September 1893, the third rector of Trinity Church was called. He was the Rev. James H. LaRoche of Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

In February 1894 a gift of $25,000 was received from Mrs. John Ray Clarke in memory of her husband, the first senior warden of the church, to be used for the building of a new church. It was at this time that the corporate name of the parish was changed from Trinity Church to Trinity Memorial Church.

The present church was moved from its original site to the lot north of it, to be used as a parish house. The basement for the new building was excavated in the fall of 1894. The cornerstone is dated 1895. By March 1896, the walls of the new building were ready to be plastered. Using the parish real estate as collateral, the Vestry authorized the borrowing of $5,000 for the completion of the church building.

A number of memorial gifts were made to complete and outfit the new church. Mrs. James K. Welden gave the beautiful window over the front entrance in memory of her husband, one of the founding fathers of the church, who died in January 1895.

Other memorial gifts included the lectern, pulpit, altar rails, alms basins, processional crosses, bishop’s and priest’s chairs, and litany and reading desks.

The proposed opening of the new building was June 3, 1897. By January 1898, the treasurer reported that the cost of the building program and organ came to $57,534.54, and the indebtedness was $21,300. A financial statement was presented and sent to 911 parish families, soliciting new pledges.

In July of 1903, the Rev. James H. LaRoche resigned because of failing health. Under the ten years of his leadership, Trinity Church had shown growth and diversification. The number of communicants had increased, and the construction of a fine new church edifice had been completed. The rectory had been enlarged and improved and parish activities had been augmented.

In October 1903, the Rev. A. Randolph B. Hegeman was called as Trinity's fourth rector. He had served at Holy Innocents Church, Albany.

He served for 14 years. He resigned in December 1917 upon his election as archdeacon of the diocese.

In 1916, preceding by a year the adoption of the New York State amendment giving women the right to vote, the Vestry of Trinity Church recommended permitting women to vote at any special or annual parish meeting. This was carried out in 1917 with the right of suffrage officially extended to the women of the parish, in accordance with state and diocesan law.