Trinity Church in Menlo Park celebrates its 140th anniversary

To commemorate Trinity Church‘s 140th anniversary, the Rev. Jude Harmon excavated an old time capsule — and buried a new one for future generations — after this morning’s service.

Here’s a short history of the church: By the day of Trinity Church’s official incorporation as a diocesan parish on Sept. 26, 1886, exactly two years, two weeks and 12 days had passed since the Eyre family first gathered for Morning Prayer on July 17, 1884. That gathering was the direct result of Mary Tutt Eyre trying to keep her family together on Sundays.

Mary’s children were in full and open revolt against the long and then bumpy trek to St. Peter’s Redwood City each Sunday. Desperate to find a solution to both raise her children in a Christian life and keep her family together, she founded the Trinity community.

The young congregation gathered for the first time in its newly constructed chapel on September 19, 1886, which cost just $1,700 to construct. At that first Sunday, the first Rector, the Rev. William Stowe, stood in for the bishop who couldn’t attend due to poor health.

The first annual meeting of the soon-to-be-parish was held in the private residence of Edward Hopkins on September 24, 1886. There, a first Vestry was elected, Stowe was installed as Trinity’s first rector, and the name “Holy Trinity” was decided upon.

When Bishop Kip visited two days later, all the requisite pieces were in place for the bishop to formally recognize the parish, and so he did. Hence, Trinity was established on September 26, 1886.

Photo by Linda Hubbard (c) 2026