11/04/08

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
A Brief History

Lutherans began worshipping in Rockville Centre from as early as the mid- 1890’s by holding services in a Congregational Church that stood on the northwest corner of Park and Lincoln Avenues. These services were held under the guidance of C. Armond Miller, who was the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City. With Pastor Miller’s help these families were able to extend a call to William Steinbicker, a seminary student from Mt. Airy Philadelphia, to hold two services and a Sunday School session on June 5, 1898.

During this period, several members of the prospective congregation who were of German origin and who desired the establishment of a German-speaking parish invited a pastor from the Missouri Synod to preach. For a period of time, while William Steinbicker was conducting English language services in the Congregational building, a German language service was being held in a house across the street. Soon, however, the congregation came back together, and all services were held in English.

Due to a variety of reasons the Congregational Church membership was declining, and they soon decided to disband. The Congregational Church Extension Society of New York and Brooklyn knew of the building’s use as a place of worship for local Lutherans and offered to sell the building for the sum of $2,000.00. This offer forced those who came together each Sunday to consider organizing officially as a Lutheran Church. The meeting took place on January 4, 1899, and once the decision to incorporate was passed, the congregation voted to have the board of trustees negotiate for the purchase of the church building. They also decided to name the new congregation The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Holy Trinity in honor of Pastor Miller.

Holy Trinity experienced many growing pains in these early days. Between 1899 and 1924 the congregation called eight different pastors and also spent some time without a pastor. By June 1917, the membership reached 125 with a Sunday School enrollment of 103. Several service societies also had been established. The congregation’s commitment to its pastors was evidenced as central heat and electric lighting were added to the parsonage between January and June of 1917.

From the recollections of some of our founding members we have a glimpse of what life was like at Holy Trinity during its first quarter century. Councilmen assumed all janitorial services except the cleaning of the lamps, which was done by the women on Saturdays. Those who attended came by horse and carriage from Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Malverne, Hempstead, Oceanside, and Baldwin. To help support the pastor’s salary the Ladies Aid Society held turkey suppers. As early as October 1917 a "Young People’s Society" was formed. There were up to 38 members, and it held monthly meetings. Each meeting was opened with a prayer led by the pastor and followed by the singing of a hymn. A New Year’s Eve dinner was held, visits were made (and gifts donated) to the Nassau County Poor House, and a portion of dues was set aside for the church mortgage fund. Three-act plays were produced to help pay the pastor’s salary, and missionaries spoke at meetings concerning their experiences in China. Starting in October 1918 Halloween parties took place.

In 1924 Holy Trinity extended a call to the Rev. Carl W. Nutzhorn, and for the next 34 years Holy Trinity experienced a period of great change and growth. Within five years 250 new members were received, and Sunday School enrollment rose from 128 to over 260. An existing debt of $7,000.00 and a mortgage of $3,500.00 were retired, while at the same time a major expansion was completed with no additional debt. In the summer of 1928, with an eye to the future, the congregation voted to purchase a piece of property then known as 228 Lincoln Avenue for the sum of $26,000.00. The present church building now stands on this property.

On June 27, 1954, a groundbreaking service was held with construction starting the following week. A time capsule was inserted into the cornerstone of the new building. It included a list of all congregational members, a list of men who had entered the ministry, a list of women who became wives of ministers, as well as photographs of Holy Trinity pastors and their wives, a copy of The Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and a hymn book. Before the old cornerstone was laid, it was opened. A hand written copy of the original constitution was found along with a list of church members, pictures of the founding members, and a copy of a Bible. Severe weather and a steel strike slowed the construction process. The church bell, which had originally been brought to the old building from Troy, New York, by horse-drawn wagon, was installed in the new steeple. Finally on Sunday, March 4, 1956, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church building was dedicated.

A former pastor of Holy Trinity would frequently quote a story in which it was asked, "What did it cost to build the Brooklyn Bridge?" The answer was "One’s man life." In many ways this was the cost of Holy Trinity’s new building. The attention to details and a constant worry about money may have taken its toll on Pastor Nutzhorn. On Monday, April 14, 1958, Pastor Nutzhorn succumbed to a fatal heart attack.

The following June, Pastor Eugene C. Kreider was installed as assistant pastor while the call committee continued to search for a new pastor. During this transition period Holy Trinity’s carillon was installed and dedicated to Pastor Nutzhorn. The call committee traveled all over eastern New York State, but it was in Holy Trinity’s backyard that its new pastor was found. Pastor Harald Kuehne first presided at worship on the 31^st of January 1960, and a call was extended that very day. He was officially installed on the 13^th of March 1960, though he had assumed the office two weeks earlier.

A new period of growth began at Holy Trinity. The beauty of the church building itself was enhanced by the installation of two sets of stained glass memorial windows. The first was dedicated in June of 1963, and the second in May of 1964. In between these dates the old church and parsonage were sold. To commemorate the 65^th anniversary of Holy Trinity, a new pipe organ was installed. Its dedication was on November 14, 1965. Showing great foresight, the congregation authorized the purchase of two properties adjacent to the church on the Woodland Avenue side. These two houses were rented for many years, providing additional income for the ministry of the church. A major improvement to the church building took place in 1972 when the chancel was completely renovated. All the pews were refinished to match the chancel soon after, and in 1975 the congregation celebrated the final mortgage payment on the church property.

As the congregation grew in size Pastor Kuehne announced that he would look favorably on an offer for someone to share his burden. At the January 1984 congregational meeting a call committee was established and, in June, Robert Schaefer was called as the new associate pastor. This led directly to a renewed spirit of growth at the church. The house closest to the church building was renovated and became a new parsonage for the Schaefers. Soon after the arrival of Pastor Schaefer a 5:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon service was added, and the following year Holy Trinity restored the annual celebration of the Easter Vigil service.

In 1987 Pastor Schaefer and his wife, Pastor Jennifer Schaefer, received a call for team ministry in the Catskills, and in January they left for Liberty, New York. Terrence Walsh was called as the new assistant pastor a few months later. He was ordained on the 14^th of June, installed at Holy Trinity on the 28^th of June, and the next day he was helping to run Vacation Church School. Pastor Walsh continued to play a key role in a growing youth program at the church.

In 1989 Pastor Kuehne announced his retirement, and Pastor Walsh received a call to the Church of the Incarnation in Bridgehampton, New York. Holy Trinity was faced with a dilemma. The size of the congregation demanded two full time pastors, but the financial resources for this need did not exist. The Synod recommended Pastors Robert and Jennifer Schaefer for team ministry to lead Holy Trinity into the 90’s.

The seven-and-a-half years of the Schaefer’s service to Holy Trinity saw a great deal of growth in many areas. The 5:00 p.m. Saturday service became a permanent service. Holy Communion was celebrated at every service, and daily morning prayer was inaugurated. New member education classes were set up, and different adult education forums were expanded. Pastor Jennifer’s weekly Bible study and evening Bible studies attracted a strong following. Assisting ministers were trained, and several members enrolled in the New York Metropolitan Synod’s Diakonia program. Thanks to a generous bequest, the church basement was remodeled in 1993 with movable walls for classroom space, and the chapel was renovated with the addition of stained glass windows. Soon after, the parish voted to expand the nursery school program and to move the church office from the basement wing to a new parish center at 78 Woodland Avenue. In 1995 these two projects were completed.

After the departure of the Schaefers at the beginning of 1998 for their new call in Tampa, Florida, the Synod sent Pastor William Eggers to serve as interim pastor while the congregation searched for new pastors. Pastor Eggers brought a quiet sensitivity and understanding as well as a fresh perspective to worship as he shepherded the congregation through this difficult period.

The parish was then led by Pastor Robert Lewis and Pastor Kathleen Anderson from November 1998 to January 2000.  Since May 2000 Pastor Gerard Gaeta has been the Interim pastor with Pastor Robert Lim as Vicar.

No one can say what the next 100 years will bring, but Holy Trinity will continue its mission – "To Know Christ And To Make Him Known."

Sons of Holy Trinity who have entered the Ministry

Walter E. Bock

Robert A. West

Clifford Suessmann

Peter R.Suarez

Donald E. Beck

Robert E. Johnson

Dewey Stromeyer