Our History

In a community of predominantly Swedish origin, the need for an English speaking Sunday School and worship service prompted the organization of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on March 15, 1912. Services were first held on the third floor of the former State Savings Bank on the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and 15th Street in Moline with faculty and seminarians from the Augustana Theological Seminary, then located on the Augustana College Campus, serving the congregation. The Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Miller was called as Trinity's first pastor in 1913.

Growing rapidly, the young congregation soon needed a larger place to worship and purchased the old fire station, located at the west end of where the church now stands, in 1914 and renovated the building for its first permanent church home.

Pastors Dr. Samuel M. Miller
and Rev. Walter A. Tillberg

In 1916 the Rev. Walter A. Tillberg became Trinity's second pastor. Through active evangelism and the appeal of the English service to those not of Swedish ancestry, the young congregation grew swiftly. In 1922 the former fire station/sanctuary was razed and the present sanctuary constructed in its place. In the late teens Trinity began an outreach ministry to families in the rapidly growing Highland district on 23rd Avenue. Trinity members conducted Sunday School classes in individual family homes in the Highland area until Calvary Lutheran Church was established in 1919.

Following World War II new housing developments in the area of 12th Avenue and 41st Street once again prompted Trinity to become involved in a mission outreach. Faith Lutheran Church, located at 1611 41st Street, was begun in May, 1950.

The increasing number of children in the congregation prompted the construction of Tillberg Hall in 1957. Pastor Tillberg retired in 1959. The Rev. Dr. Eric J. Gustavson was called to Trinity, serving the congregation from 1959 until 1962. During his pastorate the nave and church basement were extensively remodeled and an administrator was added to the staff which had consisted of the pastor and secretary.

Trinity's fourth pastor, the Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Raymond, served from 1963 until his retirement in 1973. He increased the church staff with the addition of a Director of Christian Education. The installation of new stained glass windows in the nave was begun and a new organ of tracker design produced by Casavant Freres of St. Hyacinth, Quebec, was installed in the balcony. Also, a tower addition with practice space for the choir, an elevator serving the nave and church hall level, and an additional entrance on the northeast corner was constructed.

The Rev. Lowell R. Dallman became pastor on November 26, 1973 and served until May 31, 1988. Soon after he began his ministry the decision was made to increase the pastoral staff, and the Rev. Paul J. Olson was called to Trinity to serve as Associate Pastor in September, 1974. The Rev. Joseph N. Robb succeeded him as Associate Pastor on September 1, 1981, serving until August, 1988. The Rev. Howard M. Edwards III was called as the third member of Trinity's pastoral staff on July 1, 1985. In the late 1980's Trinity once again became involved in mission outreach, assisting in the establishment of Light of Christ, Algonquin, Illinois.

In 1979 sufficient property had been purchased in the block in which the church was located to permit the alley between the church and education building to be vacated. An administrative center and entry to tie the two buildings together provided additional office space for a growing pastoral and lay staff, and a chapel was constructed.

During this remodeling, space was also provided for Intouch, an adult day care program developed jointly by Trinity and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. In 1985 the Intouch program had grown to the extent it was necessary for it to relocate to a larger facility.

In 1987, Trinity united with thousands of other Lutheran churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Trinity celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1987. The art piece in the north entry was commissioned to commemorate this event.

The Rev. Ellis E. Eskritt began his ministry as Trinity's Senior Pastor on February 6, 1989. Through his emphasis on social ministry, a Parish Nurse program was implemented at Trinity as well as a program reaching out to disadvantaged children and their families at Ericsson Elementary School in Moline. An after-school program at the church, staffed by volunteers, was initiated to help children with their homework while providing a place for them to go after school. In 1997 the Blessed Beginnings Preschool for children 3 and 4 years of age was established at Trinity and continues to grow. Classes are held each weekday morning and afternoon. Trinity is involved in mission activities in the Arusha Diocese of Tanzania where it has assisted in the construction of a secondary school and has provided scholarships for students. The Rev. Jeff Engholm was called to serve Trinity as Assistant Pastor in July of 1990.

Pastor Edwards left Trinity in October of 1991 and Pastor Engholm then became Associate Pastor, serving until May of 1993. The Rev. D. William Knapp, Jr., joined the Trinity staff as Associate Pastor in September of 1993, serving to September, 1998.

In 1992, the VISION 2000 program was approved to substantially remodel Trinity's facilities and provide space for future programs. A new addition was constructed which included a multipurpose room on the ground floor and classrooms and a new meeting area for Trinity's youth on the second floor. The new facilities are fully handicapped-accessible. The dedication was held on May 1, 1994.

Trinity's seventh pastor, the Rev. Gary R. LaCroix, was called to serve Trinity in 1999. The Rev. Frank Langholf was called in March, 2000, as part of the pastoral team. Pastor Langholf served until October 31, 2002. The Rev. Laura Koppenhoefer was called as Associate Pastor, beginning August 18, 2003. Pastor LaCroix served until September, 2004.

The Rev. Larry Conway began his ministry as Trinity's Senior Pastor on February 7, 2007.

Now in its fifth generation of faithful presence, Trinity through its members continues its active involvement with the children and staff of Ericsson School, mission activities in the Northern Illinois Synod and the Arusha Diocese in Tanzania, Blessed Beginnings Preschool, the Parish Nurse program, and many other forms of service and outreach in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.