The History of Trinity
as of July 18, 2020
On September 30, 1842, Robert Singleton sold the trustees the land on which Trinity Church stands for $100. The present church is the third building on the site, the first having been built in 1842 and the second in 1895.
1842 Structure
1895 Structure
In 1890, the Parish included Upperville, Delaplane, Middleburg and Aldie, and by 1909 two missions had also been started. In February, 1895, the first building was taken down because of extreme dampness, and a new building was erected on the old foundation.
In 1948, it became apparent again that the church building was in bad condition and that a new structure was needed. This present campus compound was a gift to the Parish by two of its members, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Mellon. Work was begun in 1951, and the first service in the new church was held in 1960.
The present complex, which includes the church, parish hall, and rectory (now used as the church office), numerous related buildings, and additional land totally approximately 35 acres were all gifts to Trinity by Mr. & Mrs. Mellon.
The first Rector of Trinity was Philip Slaughter (1840 – 1844) and the third Rector whose dates are recorded (1849 – 1852) was The Rev. Richard Wilmer, later Bishop Wilmer. Rev. Jonathan Adams is our twenty-fourth Rector.
The Rectors of Meade Parish
Philip Slaughter 1840 -1844
William M. Jackson 1844 -1849
Richard H. Wilmer 1849 – 1852
O. A. Kinsolving 1853 -1870
William Meade Dame 1870 – 1874
Magruder Maury 1874 – 1875
William H. Johnson 1876 – 1878
Arthur S. Johns 1878 – 1887
Edwin S. Hinks 1890 – 1895
Robert Kinlock Massie 1896 – 1898
Claudius F. Smith 1898 – 1902
Thomas C. Darst 1903 – 1905
John H. Chapman 1905 – 1906
John C. Ambler 1906 – 1907
Edward B. Burwell 1910 – 1931
Laurance Brent 1931 – 1933
William Page Dame 1934 – 1935
*above from the plaque in the south transept
C. J. Sheffield Ryley 1937 -1955
Robert E. Cox 1955 – 1965
Francis Bayard Rhein 1966 – 1978
Richard T. C. Peard 1979 – 1991
Robert Davenport 1992 – 2004
Robert L. Banse 2007 - 2018
Jonathan V. Adams 2020 –
Note: There are multiple years between Johns - Hinks and Ambler-Burwell. It is assumed Trinity was without a full-time Rector during these times. After 1991, these similar delays were due to a more complicated search process. These years were served by an “Interim Rector”.