0502e
Solebury, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
www.trinitysolebury.org
Trinity Episcopal Church
Parish Profile 2011
2 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Table of Contents
Letter to Candidates ................................................................................................... 3
Mission and Vision Statement ................................................................................... 4
History .................................................................................................................... 5-6
Clergy ......................................................................................................................... 7
Demographics and Attendance ............................................................................. 8-9
Ministries at Trinity ........................................................................................... 10-12
Worship and Music .................................................................................................. 10
Spiritual Formation .................................................................................................. 10
Pastoral Care ............................................................................................................ 10
Parish Life ................................................................................................................ 11
Communications ...................................................................................................... 11
Stewardship .............................................................................................................. 11
Church School .......................................................................................................... 11
Youth Ministries ...................................................................................................... 11
Outreach ................................................................................................................... 12
Property and Cemetery............................................................................................. 12
Finance ..................................................................................................................... 12
Trinity Day School ................................................................................................... 12
Parish Survey ..................................................................................................... 13-14
Characteristics We Seek in Our Next Rector ..................................................... 15-16
Search Committee Members .................................................................................... 17
3 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Trinity Church Confidential Address: Church Address:
Trinity Church Search Committee Trinity Episcopal Church
17 Doyle Street 6587 Upper York Road
Doylestown, PA 18901 PO Box 377
GREETINGS!
The Search Committee of Trinity Church is pleased to acknowledge that we are ready to move
forward with our search for our new rector, and that we appreciate your interest in Trinity.
We have prepared the attached Parish Profile to provide you with a sense of who we are and
what we are looking for in our next rector. Trinity Church is a welcoming and active parish, and
our members reflect our Bucks County community – informed, socially conscious, and
committed to critical thinking. We pray and play well together, have fun and laugh a lot, and
know ourselves to be caring, Spirit-filled, joyful, and generous.
Trinity is blessed to have had Rev. Emory Byrum serve as our Interim Rector for the past two
years. With his help we have grown in love for one another, and we have moved into a period of
intentional transition. Appropriately, our congregation has spent time in prayerful reflection and
renewal, and we have re-discovered who we are as a congregation.
In April, 2010, Trinity became actively engaged in the transition process and began moving
toward the new chapter that awaits us as a congregation. We reworked our Strategic Plan and
created a Parish Survey that provided the framework for this profile. The congregation engaged
in active listening sessions to prepare for our new relationship with the priest we hope to call.
Trinity is a dynamic congregation, excited about beginning a new pastoral relationship. We‟re
open to God‟s will for our parish, and to discerning the best candidate to lead us into the next
stages of our mission and ministry, and our personal spiritual growth. Our contact information
is listed above for your convenience in submitting your information, and we look forward to
hearing from you.
Peace,
The Search Committee of Trinity Church
4 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
TRINITY’S MISSION
In response to the love and challenge of
Jesus Christ, the Mission of Trinity
Church, Solebury, is to:
Worship God in Christ
Welcome all people
Rejoice in fellowship
Grow in knowledge
Give of ourselves
Care for one another
Serve the world
Proclaim the good news of God in Christ
TRINITY’S VISION
In communion with the Spirit and one another, we are called to recognize the spiritual lives of
every member of Trinity: to assist one another in finding our own ways to enrich and nurture our
spiritual practice, and to develop our ministries in the world.
5 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
TRINITY’S HISTORY
The original settlers of Solebury's open farmland were Quakers, and during the early 1800's the
few Episcopalians in the area traveled by horse and wagon to the church in Buckingham. Lizzie
and Mary Jones, concerned about the religious education of nearby children, began holding a
children's Sunday school on a local farm. Soon the families gathered in the little stone
schoolhouse at the Solebury crossroads of Sugan and Old York Roads. In 1860, the Rev. William
Griest from Buckingham incorporated this small group as Trinity Solebury Chapel, a mission of
Trinity, Buckingham. Rev. J.T. Carpenter followed Rev. Griest and the group became large
enough to move from the schoolhouse. In 1876, ground was broken for our own chapel, and it
was completed two years later at a cost of about $1,000.
Rev. Carpenter moved away and during the following years, traveling priests and seminary
students provided services on an irregular basis. About1900, a new rector at Buckingham helped
revive interest at Trinity. Horse sheds were built to encourage attendance, and gated booths
replaced the benches in the church. In 1911, when ministers from Newtown acquired a car,
regular services resumed at Trinity and, although not officially recognized by the Diocese,
Trinity considered itself a parish and elected a vestry.
During the 1930's, Trinity's Women's Auxiliary raised money through community suppers,
which led to construction of a parish hall and small kitchen. The first Christmas Bazaar was held
in 1946, and Trinity's famous Christmas cookies were first introduced. The congregation
remained small, however; it was not until after World War II that it begin to swell. In 1948 the
Rev. Walter Malone was installed as Trinity's first full-time vicar, and the rectory was built for
him and his family. The first volume of Bucks Cooks was published in 1953 as a major
fundraiser, leading to expansion of the church chancel. In 1954, the Diocese recognized Trinity
Episcopal Church as a self-sustaining parish, and the Rev. G. Crofton Thompson became our
first rector.
Trinity's Day School opened in 1959, and the cemetery was established in 1963. The Women's
Auxiliary was renamed the Women of Trinity in 1963. Two years later, the first woman was
appointed to the vestry. Following Mr. Thompson's sudden death, the Rev. John M. Smart was
chosen as Rector in 1968, and the congregation continued to grow. The Wiley property adjacent
to the church was purchased in 1973, later to become the site of the present church. Ron
Kershner, a professional musician, served as organist and music director from 1974 until 1994;
under his direction, the choir blossomed. In 1978, the Rev. William H. Wood III became Rector
and led the parish for thirteen years, the longest tenure of any of Trinity's clergy. Following his
departure in 1991, the Rev. Barbara A. Kelley served as Interim Rector. The second volume of
Bucks Cooks came out in 1984, and the Christmas Bazaar was reorganized as the Christmas
House Tour in 1991.
The Rev. David A. Anderson was called as Rector in 1992. Three years later, Trinity had its first
Assistant Rector, the Rev. John Capellaro, who expanded the Trinity Youth Group first
6 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
organized in 1992 and initiated Lobsterfest and Mission Philadelphia. Trinity Tidings became
the monthly newsletter. PEACEMEAL,a monthly dinner for families from throughout our
communities who are afflicted with HIV/AIDS, was inaugurated in 1995. The Anderson family
moved into their own home in 1997, and work was begun to
transform the rectory into administrative offices. The 1990's had
brought remarkable growth to the area, and the parish continued to
expand.
In May 1998, the church buildings burned down and the church itself
was badly damaged. For two years, services were held in the New
Hope/Solebury Elementary School gymnasium across the road and
the school's classrooms were used for Church School. This was a
traumatic time for both clergy and parishioners, lightened by the
arrival in August of Tim Harrell, an accomplished organist, and the
addition of the Rev. Susan J. Butler who joined Trinity as Assistant
Rector in January. During the years in the gym, the congregation kept growing and eagerly
watched the construction of the new church; the first service was held there in June 2000. That
Fall, Trinity Day School moved into its six new classrooms. The old church was renovated and is
now the Chapel for smaller gatherings.
In 2002, a bell was installed in the new bell tower, and Vacation Bible School was held for the
first time; it is now an annual event. The Rev. Susan Sica served as Assistant
Rector. In May 2003, the parish regretfully wished Mr. Anderson and his family
well as they moved on to Connecticut. In July, the Rev. Christine Ritter took
over as Interim Rector, serving during the search for a new rector, assisted part-
time by the Rev. Virginia Sheay. Church School enrollment grew to 100
children, and the Day School flourished.
The Rev. Marshall Shelly arrived in time for Holy Week in 2005, the Rev.
Mariclair Partee became assistant rector and the Rev. Sheay continued to assist
as well. After many years of planning and fund raising, in the spring of 2006,
Trinity celebrated the arrival of our new pipe organ, installed in space provided
for it when the new church was built. During the following years, the
parish continued to support a wide variety of spiritual and community-
conscious ministries. The Outreach ministry extended help to our sister
parish in Guatemala and sent a Team Tabasamu to provide dental care and
education to Kitale, Kenya. The Trinity Youth Group continued to look
forward to its annual "Mission Philadelphia" in June. In the fall of 2008,
Kyle Evans, a longtime member of Trinity and Director of Youth and
Children's Ministries for many years, left her staff position and began a
year as Missioner in Haiti, working through its theological seminary.
Marshall Shelly‟s ministry as rector of Trinity ended in early 2009 and
2003 - Present
1998 - Present
2009 - Present
7 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
with the leaving of the assistant rector, Mariclair Partee, Trinity entered another period of
change. The Rev. Emory Byrum was appointed interim rector and began his ministry the week
after Easter 2009, leading Trinity as a vital Episcopal parish in the Diocese of Pennsylvania,
welcoming all.
TRINITY’S CLERGY HISTORY
Walter K. Malone, Vicar 1948-1954
J. Crofton Thompson 1954-1967
John A. Smart \ 1968-1977
William H. Wood III 1978-1991
Barbara A. Kelley, Interim 1991-1992
David R. Anderson 1992-2003
John J. Capellaro, Assistant Rector 1995-1998
Susan J. Butler, Assistant Rector 1999-2001
Susan S. Sica, Interim Assistant 2002-2002
Christine E. Ritter, Interim 2003-2005
Virginia Sheay, Clergy Assistant 2003-present
Marshall Shelly 2005-2009
Mariclair Partee, Assistant Rector 2007-2009
Emory Byrum, Interim 2009-present
TRINITY’S STAFF
Trinity enjoys the support of our tenured and capable staff. Our staff consists of:
Cindy Bove Day School Director
Timothy Harrell Music Director
Debbie Stedman Parish Administrator
Stephen Wilson Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Jane Ellen Nugent Parish Secretary
Anne Yarnall Financial Secretary for Operations
Ed Goeller Sexton
TRINITY WARDENS AND VESTRY
Senior Warden - David Griffith - [email protected]
Junior Warden - Lorri Perkins - [email protected]
Complete information about our Vestry Members can be found on our website -
www.trinitysolebury.org
2009 - Present
8 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Demographics and Attendance
AREA SERVED
Trinity Episcopal Church is located in Solebury Township, Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Trinity draws most of its parishioners from Bucks County, PA, Hunterdon County, NJ and
Mercer County, NJ. The 2005 Trinity Strategic Plan was based on rapid population growth in
these areas between1990 – 2004. Since 2004, population growth has continued, but at a slower
rate.
In Hunterdon County, NJ, the population has
remained flat at 130,000 each year from 2005 – 2008.
The Mercer County, NJ population was essentially flat
from 2005 – 2008 at 365,000 with growth expected to
be 3% total by 2010. The population of Bucks
County, Pennsylvania grew by 8,000 or 1.3% between
2004 – 2008, making it one of the few counties in
Pennsylvania to have grown since 2004. Bucks
County total population was estimated to be 626,015 in 2009.
Solebury Township population was 25,880 in the 2000 Census and was projected to be 30,689 in
2010, and 31,941 in 2015. The median age is expected to increase from 41.7 in 2000 to 46.1 in
2010 and 48.0 in 2015. This increase in median age is also reflected in somewhat lower
enrollment in the younger grades as compared to the older grades in the New Hope – Solebury
schools. A 2000 Census snapshot of a 5 and 10-mile radius around Trinity showed 26,825
people and 113,818 people respectively.
Median Household Income in Solebury Township was $75,539 in 2000, $105,196 in 2010 and is
projected to be $112,828 in 2015. The 5 and 10-mile circles around Trinity show similar median
age data and only slightly lower median household income. In comparison to Pennsylvania and
the US, the area served by Trinity is relatively affluent.
9 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
TRINITY MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE
Trinity Church records indicate total active baptized members to have been 435 in 2000, with
steady growth to 606 at year-end 2004. The years
2005 – 2007 show sudden jumps in membership to
865, 897, and 963, respectively. The years 2008 and
2009 show significant drops to 506 and 472,
respectively.
Two key factors were in play here. First, we did lose
a number of families in the aftermath of the departure
of our last rector. The second factor, and perhaps the
more significant, was the concerted effort on the part
of our Interim Rector and church staff to adjust the
rolls so that they more accurately reflect the true membership of Trinity.
An indication that the rolls may not have reflected of the true membership comes from
comparing average Sunday attendance in 2000 of 282 with membership listed at 435 to average
Sunday attendance in 2007 of 268 with membership listed as 963. We believe that some real
growth took place in the years 2005 – 2007 and that some real losses occurred in 2008 – 2009.
Unfortunately, the data obscures that information and does not tell our story well.
Church School enrollment peaked at 209 in 2006, which coincided with the peak in Sunday
attendance at 316. In 2009, Church School enrollment was 85, down both from the peak and
also down from 115 in 2004. This reflects both the larger number of families with school age
children who attended Trinity in the years 2005 – 2007 and the trend toward fewer school age
children in the area.
Trinity Episcopal Church membership and attendance are shown in the following bar graph.
10 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
MINISTRIES AT TRINITY
We at Trinity Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, strive to live
into the call of Jesus Christ to grow in mutual love, fellowship
and grace. The following list contains descriptions of the work
of our ministries:
WORSHIP AND MUSIC
The mission of the Worship Committee is to provide a
reflective setting for church services, to set the tone, and lead
the congregation in worship. The worship style at Trinity is
traditional and not “high church.” The Worship and Music
Committee is broad-based and includes Altar Guild, Lectors,
Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Flower Guild, Acolytes and Ushers,
a large senior choir and a junior choir. Musical standards are
high and music is a rich part of our worship tradition. The
sanctuary has a Martin Pasi tracker pipe organ. We enjoy many
concerts throughout the year and share the sanctuary with other
musical groups from the community
SPIRITUAL LIFE AND FORMATION
The Spiritual Life Ministry seeks to actualize Trinity‟s Mission
Statement. It provides opportunities for Trinity parishioners to deepen
their spirituality, grow in their knowledge of the Scripture, the Episcopal
Church and Christianity. The active committee organizes many events:
books studies, retreats at various religious communities, Lenten quiet
days, centering prayer and Mindfulness Meditation classes. The success
of the recent adult program Living the Question, a film and discussion
series each Sunday, speaks to the value and importance of this type of
program for our adult members.
PASTORAL CARE
We are all called to participate in pastoral care at Trinity. In addition to the general pastoral care
we provide each other, there are specific pastoral care ministry teams, whose members offer their
pastoral gifts, together with ongoing pastoral care provided by the clergy. The teams are the Lay
Eucharistic Ministry, Pastoral Care Team, Trinity Cares, our Grief and Bereavement Ministries
and our Prayer List.
PARISH LIFE
The Parish Life Ministry invites and invigorates our members through the joyful practice of
„Welcoming all People‟ so we may serve God. Parish Life includes all aspects of hospitality: the
Welcome Committee, Coffee Hour, Receptions, Men‟s Breakfast, Cookie Bake, and House
Tour. We foster the good health of the Parish through fellowship. We are an inclusive parish,
11 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
welcoming all ages and people joyfully. We invite and welcome members of our community to
share in our abundant food and fellowship, music, and youth activities.
COMMUNICATIONS
The Communications Ministry has been blessed with the
tasks of capturing and delivering the good news of
Trinity. The Communications Ministry is responsible
for Trinity Tidings, our monthly newsletter, bulletins,
parish directory and our website
www.trinitysolebury.org .
STEWARDSHIP
The Stewardship Ministry involves parishioners through worship, personal
commitment, and spiritual devotion, which leads to their pledging of their time,
talent and a personal financial commitment. The Stewardship Committee takes a
very structured approach to organizing stewardship efforts as part of the ongoing
life of the parish. The emphasis in these efforts is to create and communicate a
Path to Pledging with these tools. We give all an opportunity to walk that path
throughout our Christian life.
CHURCH SCHOOL
Trinity‟s Church School provides an opportunity for children in
the parish to explore and share their ideas, beliefs, questions
and feelings through formal Christian education. Church
School meets each Sunday during the school year and holds
vacation Bible School in the summer. Trinity is currently
using the Living the Good News curriculum for its 1st - 12
th
graders. The Church School Ministry is also responsible for
Early Communion, Confirmation, the Christmas Pageant, and
the Easter Egg Hunt. A vibrant, exciting Church School program has been an important way we
attract new members, particularly young families.
YOUTH MINISTRIES
The Trinity Youth Group (TYG) is an active, thriving part of the
parish. The mission of this ministry is to foster spiritual growth of
the youth of our church and in the broader community. This is
accomplished through the many activities of TYG: Lobsterfest,
Mission Philadelphia, and Youth Eucharist. Fifty youth from our
congregation and the community at large participate weekly in
TYG, which is well supported by 15 adults volunteers. Mission
Philadelphia is TYG‟s largest event with 45 families participating in this community outreach
project. We also have a retreat in the Fall and Spring and an annual Ski Trip. TYG families come
to Trinity as they follow their children into Trinity‟s parish life.
12 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
OUTREACH
Outreach is an essential and defining aspect of Trinity‟s mission, funded through our budget and
through fundraising efforts outside of our budget. There are multiple “hands on” Outreach
projects including Aid for Friends, Haitian Relief, Habitat for Humanity, Mwamba, an
educational ministry for students in Kenya, and support of our
sister parish in Guatemala. In addition, Peacemeal is a monthly
celebration of food and fellowship for members of our
community who have AIDS or are HIV positive and is a strong
example of Trinity‟s ongoing commitment to community
outreach. Outreach at Trinity includes direct financial support of
local and international agencies.
PROPERTY AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE
The Property Ministry is responsible for maintenance of our physical plant, as well as
coordinating the sexton‟s activities. It includes the Cemetery Committee, which maintains
traditional cemetery grounds on the property with a commitment to perpetual care. The cemetery
has a stand-alone budget and is self-sustaining.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Ministry provides the Vestry with guidance and advice in the faithful stewardship of
Trinity's financial resources, always seeking to ensure that thoughtful financial planning is an
integral part of the parish's overall mission.
TRINITY DAY SCHOOL
Trinity Day School was established in 1959. It exists to create a
learning environment based on Christian values, celebrating the
uniqueness of each child, and as a daily outreach of the church. Cindy
Bove is the Director of The Day School. There are 5 teachers and 45
students at this time.
13 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Parish Survey
In order to prepare a profile of Trinity, 179 parishioners participated in a survey. The survey
could be taken on-line, and we also made paper copies available. In addition to the survey, small
group sessions were conducted in the chapel in order to give everyone an opportunity to express
their views and be heard. The first part of the survey provides information about the
demographics of the survey participants and the second part determined what the parish wants in
a new rector.
The survey was open to all members of the
Parish. The majority of the participants that
took the survey were older; that is, 127 out of
179 participants or 71% of the survey takers
were more than 50.
Survey participants were asked, “What first
attracted you to Trinity?” The first 3
responses were 1) Sense of Community, 2)
Clergy and 3) Proximity to home. However,
when asked why do you continue to worship at Trinity, the first 3 responses were 1) Sense of
Community, 2) Music Program and 3) Clergy. The Music Program at Trinity is a big reason that
people continue to worship at Trinity.
Interestingly, when asked “What is missing for you at Trinity?” the first response was “a sense of
community.” While on the surface this may seem like a contradiction, the respondents stated
that the “sense of community is not what it used to be.” Two other areas that were missing for
participants were “spiritual practices” and “a permanent rector”.
14 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Trinity is a church with many activities and ministries. We are an active church with many
opportunities in which people of all ages can participate. The survey asked parishioners to
indicate which activity they participate(d) in and to rank the activity in terms of importance. The
chart below shows the results from this question.
In our small group sessions, we asked people “What word or phrase would you like to see
applied to Trinity?” Responses were:
• Welcoming, loving, inclusive parish
• Active, spiritual community
• Vibrant, diverse, caring programs and ministries
15 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
The Characteristics We Seek in Our Next Rector
Trinity Church is looking for our new rector to:
Provide strong spiritual leadership
Attract, inspire and unify our membership
Respond to the Pastoral Care needs of our congregation
Support and encourage Outreach
Develop education programs for all ages and develop lay leadership
Celebrate our music program with us
Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
Enhance / deepen our sense of community – grow the “Trinity Spirit”
We need our next rector to lead us spiritually in the formation and development of our life at
Trinity. The parish, responding in our survey, felt that our new rector should have strong
preaching skills, participate actively in the life of the parish, be dynamic in the area of pastoral
care, and facilitate our growth.
We seek a preacher who leads varied and enriching services, from which parishioners leave
feeling inspired to discern and do God‟s work. We are looking for a priest whose sermons relate
the readings of the day to everyday life.
We have identified Pastoral Care as an important focus for our new rector. It is our desire to
have a Rector who will get to know all members of our congregation, be caring and loving and
participate in pastoral visits. We seek a rector who is a shepherd to his/her flock and recognizes
the importance of visiting both new and existing members of our parish. Our new rector will
need to be available in crisis situations to those who are homebound or in need.
Education is also an important aspect of our new rector‟s job. Our parish is looking for a rector
to actively direct development of religious education for all ages. Our adult members have
actively participated in a recent adult education series and have expressed a wish to have similar
opportunities in the future. The youth of Trinity are enthusiastic, and we need a leader who will
continue to develop and grow our youth programs. The music program is strong at Trinity. We
need our next rector to continue to enthusiastically support the music program.
We seek for our next rector a person who has strong interpersonal skills. It is our desire to
have a leader who is approachable and sincere. We want our next rector to manage and guide
our staff and encourage our lay leadership. He or She needs to have a strong personal faith and
practice, be deeply spiritual and feel „called‟ to being our priest. Trinity is looking for our next
rector to have had previous, positive experience as a parish priest.
16 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
While Trinity Church sees itself as a diverse and welcoming church, it is hoped that the new
rector will be able to further inspire the members of the parish and bring a sense of unity to
the church. It is important that our rector welcome diversity and encourage the inclusion of
all people.
In our survey, a „sense of community‟ was the primary reason that people first came to Trinity
and the main reason that they stay. However, when asked what is missing at Trinity, the number
one response was that „inclusion and a sense of community are not what they used to be‟.
Trinity is looking for a leader to help us transition and experience a renewed sense of
community within our congregation.
Trinity is a dynamic congregation, excited about beginning our new pastoral relationship. We
are seeking a priest who is self-confident, has humility and a sense of humor, and is a good
listener. We’re open to God’s will for our parish and to discerning the best candidate to lead
us into the next stages of our mission and ministry.
17 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Search Committee Members
Ashby Saunders
Bob Marcino
Chris Grabarz
Don Eavenson
Helen Montgomery
Jon Hayward
Lorri Perkins
Mary Miller
Matthew Summers
Megg King
18 Trinity Episcopal Church Solebury – Parish Profile
Notes