Trinity Episcopal Church sits at the end of Ryers Lane in Matawan, New Jersey, on the four-acre site where the present church was dedicated in 1968. The congregation traces its roots to 1850, when Colonel John Travers laid the cornerstone of an English Gothic church on Main Street. Today Trinity is a diverse, welcoming Episcopal parish, proud of its hospitality and known in the surrounding community for steady outreach to neighbors in need.
A Cornerstone in 1850, a New Church in 1968
The story of Trinity begins with Colonel John Travers, who lived at the mouth of the Cheesequake River in what was then Middletown Point. On April 24, 1850, the Rt. Rev. George W. Doane, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, laid the cornerstone of a small brick church built in the early English Gothic style. The New Jersey Churchscape later described it as modeled after St. James the Less in Philadelphia, designed by Richard Upjohn, one of the leading architects of the 1840s and 50s. Upjohn's signature elements - the steep roof pitch, the clearly delineated chancel, the bellcote, buttresses, and low side walls enclosing interior aisles - gave the original Trinity its distinctive look. The church was incorporated on May 11, 1850.
For decades the parish was served from neighboring congregations. In 1926, through the efforts of Senior Warden Clifford Chapman, Trinity became an assisted parish under the supervision of the Rev. John Schwacke, rector of St. Peter's Freehold. Trinity eventually gained full parish status in the late 1950s, when the first fund drive purchased its own rectory on Wyckoff Street and the Rev. John Robson became Trinity's first full-time Rector. A larger rectory was later acquired at 142 Broad Street.
By the mid-1960s the old brick church on Main Street could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. The Rev. M. George Jaeger led the move to a four-acre site at the end of Ryers Lane, ground was broken on October 8, 1967, and Bishop Banyard dedicated the new church building on June 18, 1968. Longtime parishioner Meredith Taylor remembers the men of Trinity staining wood and laying floors to finish the interior, and a modular rectory arriving in two large pieces to be placed over a basement and attached to a two-car garage. The old church at 74 Main Street was sold and is now Bart's Restaurant.
Sunday Worship and Sacred Music
Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m., with the parish planning a return to two Sunday services, including a traditional service with music at 10:00 a.m. The music program is led by Organist Jurry Jeong, a classically trained pianist and church musician with more than fifteen years of experience in Korea and the United States. She brings skills in choir direction, worship accompaniment, hymn improvisation, and music education, and works closely with clergy and the worship team to shape inclusive, meaningful services. An organ was acquired through a successful 1985 fund drive and dedicated in a concert by renowned organist Carlo Curley.
Sunday School Through Senior Youth
Christian education at Trinity takes several forms. Sunday School classes meet at the conclusion of Holy Eucharist and are grouped by grade level: Preschool (ages 3-4), Kindergarten and 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade, and 6th through 8th grade. Teachers use a hands-on, interactive approach to nurture a love of God, Bible stories, an understanding of the liturgy, and the importance of service. A Children's Chapel is offered during the service for the youngest children.
Beyond the weekly classroom, the church year brings a long list of family activities: a Halloween Party, an Easter Egg Hunt, Junior Youth luncheons, "Feed the Birds" during Advent, "Pretzels and Passover," "Sundaes on Sunday," "PJ's and Bible Studies," and a Good Friday children's service with egg dyeing.
The Trinity Youth Group gathers older youth for service projects and faith formation. Events have included the Annual Pet Blessing, cooking for those in need, and helping lead the children's Good Friday service. Families are also pointed to Vibrant Faith @ Home resources for activities tied to the lessons taught at Trinity.
Twice-a-Month Lunches for Keansburg
Outreach is a steady rhythm at Trinity. The parish supports St. Mark's Pantry and Soup Kitchen in Keansburg, both through donations and through hands-on cooking. A core group of "chefs" prepares main dishes at home on their own schedule, then freezes or refrigerates them until Pam Gunter and Tim Sharpe deliver them, along with a side dish, on the first and third Monday of each month. St. Mark's provides the main dish item, and the parish reimburses expenses for supplies and additional ingredients. Canned goods and non-perishable food can be placed in the St. Mark's basket in the narthex, and a pink piggy bank collects ongoing donations. Extra volunteers are welcome, particularly during summer weeks.
The Altar Guild and the Chapel of the Resurrection
Behind every Sunday service is the quiet work of the Altar Guild, one of Trinity's most enduring ministries. Guild members prepare the Eucharist - chalices, paten, linens, bread, water, grape juice, and wine - with the reverence the elements deserve. They tend to the seasonal shifts of the church year, transforming the nave with decorations during Advent and Christmas and taking on a more somber tone during Lent. Holy Week is the busiest time, with services changing from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. The Guild also prepares the altar for baptisms, weddings, memorial services, and funerals, cares for altar linens and flowers, polishes silver and brass vessels, and keeps the sacristy supplied.
The chapel in the church was renamed the Chapel of the Resurrection when Trinity installed a columbarium there, giving parishioners a place for inurnment within the building itself.
Cookie Walks, Paint and Sip, and Parish Life
Fundraising at Trinity is as much about fellowship as it is about finances. The parish hosts Dine Out evenings, a Fall Basket Auction, Paint and Sip nights, and the famous Cookie Walk held each December. The parish describes itself as "an open, warm, and accepting family who enthusiastically work and pray together," seeking to grow closer to Christ by loving God and loving neighbor.
Clergy and Leadership
Trinity is served by the Rev. Shelton Radix as Rector, and by Deacon Magdalena Aders, who discerned her call to the diaconate at the Church of the Holy Communion in Fair Haven, attended The School for Deacons beginning in 2012, served her internship at Trinity, and was ordained in 2015. She is a Daughter of the King and chaplain to Trinity's Immaculata Chapter of the Daughters of the King. The parish office is staffed by Meredith Taylor and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Senior Warden Tracey Siegel and Junior Warden Tim Sharpe head the Vestry, with wardens and committee chairs overseeing Evangelism, Buildings and Grounds, Parish Life, Fundraising, Communication, Finance and Audit, and Stewardship.