Holy Trinity & St. Benedict History

Holy Trinity has grown with Alhambra Since its beginning in 1913.  It has been the host congregation of St. Benedict's Mission which has met and worshiped in the Holy Trinity buildings since 1992.  Beginning in 1996, the two congregations sought to come together as one parish in spite of ethnic and other differences between the two.  As the congregations grew closer and a potential merger began to take shape, The Rev. Roger Rose (Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity from 1995 to 1999), said " Our way forward, has been helped partly by the real willingness on the part of many in both congregations to take small but needed steps to bring us together, aided by the growing realization that it simply makes sense for us to be united in one parish.  I think that most all of us believe that the Lord has been leading us in this direction."

Saint Benedict's mission, which had been organized since 1988, consisted mainly of folk from the Cordillera Region of Northern Philippines and was considerably larger than Holy Trinity.  Its pastor at the time of the merger, the Rt. Rev. Artemio Zabala, former Bishop of North Central Philippines, had been enthusiastic about the union of the two churches from the start.  As the union was made he said, " We have dreamed about, prayed and worked toward this union.  God has given us His Yes.  As we joyfully say 'Thank You, Lord', we pray for keener discernment, more obedient hearts and stronger hands to serve God's reign in Southern California."

Holy Trinity's Fr. Roger commented, "I'm really thankful for the leadership that my colleague Bishop Zabala has given.  A united parish will allow all of us to build on each other's strength as resources are pooled.  It will also more readily enable us to develop new ministries appropriate to our city.  Everyone will gain by this."

The mission developed rapidly from 1909, and in 1913 the mission was incorporated as a parish, under the Rev. L.M. Idleman, who was succeeded that same year by the Rev. Milton S. Runkle who served Holy Trinity through 1929.  The Depression years followed by World War II saw a succession of rectors: the Reverends George McDonald, Merrill J. Tennyson, and Charles Bailey.  The Rev. David Scovil became rector in 1946 and served the parish through 1953. During the term of Scovil and with the leadership of Judge Herbert Farrell, plans were made for a new church building, a parish hall, rectory, and the acquisition of additional land space.

However, it was during the tenure of the Rev. Harold T. Hultgren as rector from 1953 to 1983, that the actual purchase of additional land and the building of a new church and a parish hall were actually done.  From 1953 to 1970, membership and activities of the parish took their peak.  Annual average attendance increased to 27,500 for all services.  The high Sunday School enrollment emphasized "family" involvement which led to the flourishing of several guilds and organizations, such as the Trinity Club, St. Margaret's Guild, St. Agnes' Guild, St. Martha's Guild, the Young People's Fellowship, Junior Y.P.F., Boy Scouts, a Men's Club, and a Sea Scouts.  The vestry too, assumed vigorous leadership, resulting in financial stability of the parish.

In 1963 the new church edifice was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Ivol Curtis, then Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles.  The parish flourished in all aspects, until the 1970s when membership dropped considerably, due in part to the changing population of Alhambra.  The effect of the changing population was devastating, as "most of the Asians (immigrating into Alhambra) were of different religious persuasions and the younger Episcopalians had moved farther east."  With a considerably reduced membership, the maximum use of the building facilities was a matter of concern.  Holy Trinity could not allow its buildings to go idle, so it opened its facilities for rent by other nonprofit organizations, such as the Alcoholics Anonymous. (Later, in the 90s, Holy Trinity opened its facilities for use by a Chinese congregation and by the congregation of St. Benedict's Mission.)

R. Eugene A. Combs moved from St. Francis Church – Chillicothe, IL and became the seventh rector of Holy Trinity in February 1984.  You may read a little bit about Eugene A. Combs on the history page of St. Francis Chillicothe, IL. Rev. Combs remained on as rector until 1988, when the Rev. David Pettit took over as rector from 1989 to 1990.    The Rev. Terence Lynberg was subsequently elected rector of the Parish, and in 1991 St. Benedict's Mission moved from St. Martha's, West Covina, to Holy Trinity.  In 1994, The Rev. Roger F. Rose became Priest in Charge of the Parish until 1999.  In 1996, Fr. Rose and Bishop Zabala of St. Benedict's initiated formal conversations between the two congregations for a merger, resulting in the now united Parish of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict.

In 1988, the Rev. David Duncan, then Rector of Trinity, Los Angeles, challenged the Filipinos during the EAM Consultation in Hawaii to follow the examples of other Asian groups in organizing their own mission congregations.  The Filipinos responded to the challenge and in July of that year, at the invitation of Rex Botengan, the national Convener of the EAM Filipino Convocation, met in West Covina, and voted to apply for mission status.  During August, some 60 people signed the Diocesan petition form furnished them by Cannon Terence Lynberg, the Archdeacon for Congregational Development.  With endorsements from Cannon John Yamasaki, Archdeacon Terence Lynberg, Archdeacon Hartshorn Murphy, the Rev. Dr. Ben Pao, the Rev. Ray Smith, the Rt. Rev. Frederick Borsch, EAM Executive Officer Winston Ching, and LADEAST, the Program Group on Mission Congregations approved the Filipino petition in September 1988.

The following month of October, the Filipino group named its first set of Bishop's Committee members.  Bishop Borsch appointed Rex Botengan to be the first Bishop's Warden.  From five suggested names for the mission submitted by the Filipino group, Bishop Borsch chose the name St. Benedict's Mission because "it is a name that is meaningful to many Filipino Episcopalians who trace their spiritual roots to St. Benedict's Church in Kniway, Besao, Philippines." (From The Episcopal News, December 1988.).

On November 5, All Saints Day, at St. Martha's Church, West Covina, Suffragan Bishop Oliver Garver, assisted by Archdeacons Terence Lynberg and Hartshorn Murphy, presided at the formal organization of the mission and the formal installation of the first set of members of the Bishop's Committee.

Pending the arrival of the Rev. Alejandro Geston from the Diocese of Hawaii, who had been called by Bishop Borsch to be the first Vicar of St. Benedict's, Archdeacon Hartshorn Murphy, Jr. appointed the Rev. Ray Smith, rector of St. Martha's Church, West Covina, as Interim Priest In Charge of St. Benedict's Mission.  In a partners-in mission relationship, the vestry of St. Martha's Church unanimously approved the use of the St. Martha's Church facilities by St. Benedict's Mission.

Fr. Alejandro Geston Officially began his office on February 1, 1989 and was officially installed as the first Vicar of St. Benedict's by Bishop Borsch on April 30, 1989.  In 1990, St. Benedict's Mission was admitted to be in union with the Convention of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

In 1991 St. Benedict's moved to Holy Trinity Church in Alhambra, and on August 31, 1992, Fr. Geston resigned to accept a call back to the Diocese of Hawaii.  Fr. Charles Belknap was then appointed interim Priest in Charge until the arrival of the Rt. Rev. Artemio Zabala, then Bishop of the North Central Philippine Diocese, who had been called by Bishop Borsch to become the next Vicar of St. Benedict's Mission.  Bishop Zabala was installed Vicar on March 20, 1994.

Much more to be done on this.  Click here to read more

In January 1998, St. Benedict's held its third congregational meeting on the matter of the merger and unanimously voted to approve the union, as recommended by the joint coordinating committee.  In February 1998, Holy Trinity followed suit and approved the merger.

With advice from the Diocese, the merger took effect on Easter Day, April 12, 1998, and the celebration of the merger to be on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 1998.  In May 1998, with the revised Articles of Incorporation approved and endorsed by the Diocese of Los Angeles, naming the merged congregation The Parish of Holy Trinity and Saint Benedict (HTSB), the merger became official.

The remaining months of 1998 were a transitional period during which the details of the united parish were worked out.  In that period, Fr. Rose and Bishop Zabala acted jointly as clergies in charge and the full vestry of Holy trinity and the full Bishop's Committee of St. Benedict's joined to form an interim vestry of the united parish.

We at Holy Trinity Parish are extremely grateful to almighty God to have given Elinor C. Rees the inspiration to use her training and talents to research scientifically the necessary material to produce a survey history of the life of Holy Trinity Parish, and the background from which this life was conceived.  It is with regret that we record her death, August 6, 1969, before she could have produced the definitive work she had in her heart and mind.  It is in her memory that we publish the present little volume which is entirely her work, with the prayer that it will be helpful and enjoyable to all who read it, and that perhaps it will inspire some talented person to fulfill Elinor's desire.  

The Reverend Canon Harold G. Hultgren, D. D., Rector 

I have found it helpful and enjoyable to read.  Perhaps the latter part of the prayer will be answered soon.  What if...?   See What if.. challenge for more to be done about recording history of St. Benedict's.  

Before the Ground Breaking and following the 10:00 Eucharist the altar was stripped to symbolize the end of the use of the old church building.  The Reserved Sacrament was consumed and the Tabernacle left open.  The Sanctuary Light was put out and the cross and candlesticks removed from the Altar.  Then a procession was formed to go to the site of the Ground Breaking.  

Excerpted from Elinor C Rees booklet.