Trinity was founded in October of 1856 by a group of German immigrants that felt a church was needed in the Stapleton area of Staten Island to serve their needs.  The congregation met in Kingsley Methodist Church, located nearby on Cebra Avenue for eight years.  In February of 1865 the congregation acquired four building lots at the corner of Beach Street and, what is now, St. Paul’s Avenue.  Shortly thereafter the Unitarian Church building on Richmond Turnpike was purchased and moved to the lots owned by the congregation.  That building, pictured here, served the needs of Trinity until 1913.

    In 1907, Trinity called as its pastor The Reverend Dr. Frederic Sutter.  Shortly after the arrival of Pastor Sutter the church felt a need for a new church building.  The new, and present, structure was commenced in 1913 and dedicated the following year.  The gothic structure features a number of interesting appointments.  There are gargoyles near the top of the tower.  The large stained glass windows in the sanctuary were made in Munich, Germany, by the Mayer Company.  The Ascension painting over the altar, pictured in color on our Photos or Welcome Pages and below in black and white, was done by a young French painter who painted it at the nearby German Club because that structure had the highest ceiling on Staten Island.  Added in 1954 was the 53 rank organ manufactured by the firm of Cassavant Freres, Vancouver, BC.

    Pastor Frederic Sutter was succeeded by his son, Carl, in 1964.  One of Pastor Carl’s earliest and most important accomplishments was the completion of the new building for Trinity Lutheran School in 1964.  Serving more than 200 students, Trinity Lutheran School not only serves children of the congregation, but of the entire community.  The School has become a significant legacy of Pastor Carl and his commitment to Stapleton.

    No longer a neighborhood of all German immigrants working in the local breweries, Stapleton became a home for people from all over the world and from all walks of life.  The Reverend Dr. Thomas F. Mugavero, who was called to Trinity in 1979, led the congregation as it followed these changes and continued to welcome all.  As it was when it was founded, Trinity today is a mirror of the community in which it resides - descendants of those same immigrants who founded the church, political and religious refugees from Liberia and other African countries, Native American, and more, all take an active part in and enrich the ongoing ministry of Trinity.

    These few paragraphs tell something of the history of the church, but is hardly the true history of the congregation.  It says nothing of the outreach to the community through the church’s soup kitchen, emergency food shelf, and participation in community organizations.  Nor does it speak of the wonderful tradition of liturgy and music of the church, led in worship by its various choirs.  These things are a part of the past, present and future - the living History and Records and mission of the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church.  Trinity has again, for only the fourth time in 100 years, chosen a new Pastor - The Reverend Richard F. Michael. Pastor Michael began his service at Trinity in February of 2001 and leads us into the 21^st century as a growing, thriving, almost 150 year old, diverse part of the family of God.  Come experience our history and experience the ministry of Trinity - Where God’s grace is shared.

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