All Saints Day is a special time of year for Methodists to honor those who have gone before us. We light candles, ring bells and remember saints, both living and dead, who have made an impact on our faith in meaningful ways. The tradition falls on the first Sunday in November and is a time of reflection, reverence and gratitude for the history and impact of our faith. It is a time to celebrate our history and to consider the ways we may also impact our community for generations to come.
In honor of All Saints Day, Georgia United Methodist Foundation is highlighting Trinity UMC in Savannah, GA, in recognition of their deep and complex history but also for the torch they are carrying today that will light the way for generations. Their clergy and faithful congregation have chosen to use GUMF Renovation Funds to ensure their 175 year old sanctuary and grounds are preserved for the next generation of parishioners.
Trinity UMC in Savannah, GA, lies on hallowed grounds for Methodists, dating back to 1812 when members of John Wesley’s original meeting group formed a small worship hall, aptly named Wesley Chapel. These dedicated members grew the congregation, famously never missing a Sunday service, regardless of weather, war or unrest. And their dedication paid off as they grew and were able to establish Trinity UMC as we know it some 30 years later. The sanctuary of Trinity UMC, built in 1848 is the very same sanctuary used to this day. The campus has grown and modernized, adding educational buildings, a choir loft and creature comforts such as electricity and air conditioning. And the congregation has taken great care to keep their history intact, using GUMF Renovation Funds to balance a need for updates and modernity with a healthy respect for their history.
Beginning in 2020, Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden of Trinity UMC pressed his church to invest in their future through a Deferred Maintenance Campaign aimed at updating the church’s sanctuary and grounds. And the idea eventually took hold when the church was in desperate need of a new HVAC unit in the Summer of 2022. However, once they tallied up the full cost of the projects they needed to undertake, Gosden and his team knew they would need help outside of what the church’s savings could offer. At that point, Gosden decided to reach out to the GUMF and secured a Remodeling and Renovation Loan from the Foundation. These funds enabled Trinity UMC to carry out a host of renovation, maintenance and beautification projects that would preserve the history of the church while also making it inhabitable and welcoming for both longtime and potential, future members.
One of the most outwardly notable changes to the storied sanctuary was the removal of their massive window shutters. While the project seemed simple enough at its outset, making changes to anything with such a long and prestigious history can be daunting. “It’s incredible the things that have an impact that you weren’t expecting,” said Gosden triumphantly. And the update proved extremely worthwhile, providing much needed light, airiness and openness to the sanctuary while doing away with a particular mustiness that is hard to avoid in a building almost 175 years old. And the same goes for their carpeting, exterior renovation, painting and maintenance projects. Each element of the project both restored the history of the building while also preserving it for the future.
When remarking on the impact of the renovations and the upcoming All Saints Day, Gosden said thoughtfully, “We did this work trying to be mindful of both the gratitude for the sacrifices that were made that got us here, but also saying this is our chance to leave an impact on this historic space that will continue to foster faith for generations to come.”
This is the impact the United Methodist Georgia Foundation makes in churches across the state. Our purpose is your mission.
For more information about the GUMF Loan Program, please reach out to our Regional VP and Director of Lending, Rev. Doreen Smalls at 770-449-6726 or reach her by email at dsmalls@gumf.org.
