The first months of 1956 were filled with beginnings for the congregation on Six Forks Road.
Worship had begun on January 8, when eighty-nine people gathered for the first Sunday School and Worship Service. Ten days later, on Wednesday evening, January 18, the congregation voted unanimously to request that Dr. Henry E. Walden, Jr., accept the pastorate, subject to a formal call. Dr. Walden accepted and became the church’s first pastor.
Before coming to Trinity, Dr. Walden had served for seven years as secretary of Rural Church Development for the Baptist State Convention. The anniversary book records that he led the organization and development of Trinity from its beginning and served as pastor from 1956 until 1958.
On Sunday afternoon, February 5, 1956, forty-nine people joined the church, with more joining at the evening service. Rev. Robert L. Newton, pastor of Millbrook Baptist Church, led the organizational meeting service.
At a called business meeting following morning worship on February 19, the church body voted to name the new church Trinity Baptist Church. At that service, fifty-four people joined.
The weeks and months that followed brought other important firsts. On February 22, the church observed its first Lord’s Supper. The first baptismal service was held at Hayes Barton Baptist Church on March 4. The official Sunday morning worship bulletin premiered on March 11 and included the schedule for worship, Sunday School and Church Training.
The congregation was also attending to the practical work of making space for ministry. Under the leadership of W. M. Christian, Jr., and E. H. Roberts, Jr., the auditorium was enlarged to include the front porch, other remodeling was completed and a new heating system was installed.
In November 1956, Bill Christian and Doug Mims constructed Trinity’s first steeple.
Within the span of a single year, a congregation had gathered, called a pastor, chosen a name, observed the ordinances of the church, welcomed members, improved its worship space and placed a steeple above the building on Six Forks Road.
The years ahead would bring new pastors, new buildings, new ministries and new generations. But the foundations were being laid in 1956 through worship, leadership, service and the faithful work of people committed to building a church together.
Read More in 70 Years at Trinity
This story was drawn from 70 Years at Trinity: February 5, 1956 – May 3, 2026, prepared in celebration of the seventieth anniversary of Trinity Baptist Church.
For more about Trinity’s first pastor and the early milestones of 1956, see pages 16–17, pages 62–63 and page 129 of the anniversary book.
