Our History

Trinity Moravian Church began in 1886 with a meeting of thirteen people inspired by the missionary zeal of a group of young ladies of Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In that same year the congregation built Centerville Chapel and dedicated it on November 28, 1886. By 1890, as many as 100 people were attending services.  Centerville Chapel was located on what is now the campus of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

By May of 1912 the Centerville congregation had built a larger church within a few blocks of their existing structure and had named it Trinity. There were ninety-six charter members committed to a ministry to the surrounding community. The congregation has maintained this goal of benevolence throughout the years to the present day.

In less than two decades, Trinity had 590 members. A parsonage and Christian Education building were built and two new congregations, New Eden and Pine Chapel, were sponsored by Trinity. The Douglas L. Rights Memorial Chapel was built and dedicated in 1960. During the 1970's a church library was established, a handbell choir was organized, a large fellowship hall and stair tower were built, and Trinity's outreach service to the community evolved into the organization known today as Sunnyside Ministry.

Throughout the 1980's emphasis on local outreach and worldwide Moravian missions increased, as did ministry among senior citizens and a unified concentration on congregational prayer. A capital campaign, begun in 2001, has resulted in many additional improvements to the church building, including a new elevator, updates to the sanctuary, and increased youth activity space.

One of the continued strengths of the congregation is its stable leadership, including the willingness of the membership to sacrifice time, talent, and treasure to provide an effective ministry in the community and beyond. Lay people founded the congregation in 1886, and ever since, while pastors have served faithfully, the true strength has rested with many individuals who remain dedicated to Christ Jesus and His Church.