Much of the growth and success of Trinity Episcopal Church at 139 Ocean Ave. in the Cranston section of historic Pawtuxet is due to the dedicated and talented rectors that have provided such excellent leadership. From the time of the first rector, Rev. Samuel W. Webb, who came from Grace Church in Providence to Trinity Chapel in 1884, to Rev. P. Wayne Runner, the church has received the necessary guidance and support it needed.
One of the most outstanding leaders in Trinity’s history was Rev. J. Hugo Klaren, the first full-time Trinity rector. It was during his tenure as pastor that the building was erected. Those who followed Rev. Klaren, such as Mr. Worthington, Rev. John H. Robinette, Frederick Hicks and Rev. Frank J. Landolt, contributed their special talents to take the church well into the 20th century.
The stats are here: http://tinyurl.com/kkvgqp .
Membership creeping up while attendance is down, down, down. About 175 in 2000 and 125 recently. Giving is flat.
But hey, it isn’t precipitous decline.
This is an interesting example of a big problem for TEC. In Cranston (which is only a part of Pawtuxet) there are 4 TEC parishes which (in 2007) had the following stats:
Members ASA Plate & Pledge
Trinity 350 190 $ 140,000
Ascension 220 75 70,000
St. David 400 100 140,000
Transfiguration 1,100 100 100,000
Not one of them is truly capable of supporting a full-time priest, etc. unless they have ample trust funds. Consolidation appears to be obvious. And Bishop Wolf must have a great sense of humor to believe that Transfiguration has ONE THOUSAND-ONE HUNDRED Members with an ASA of ONE HUNDRED. Statmann