Our Church

In 1923, Colored Methodist Episcopal members from various places and churches became interested in establishing a C.M.E. church in the Miami area. Rev. J.L. Butler served as minister of the group. In 1924, Brother Nathan Byron circulated a petition for the purpose of building a C.M.E. church. The church was organized in the home of Rev. and Mrs. Butler.

In 1925, the group unanimously agreed that the church be named Trinity Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. Shortly after naming the church, the foundation of Trinity was started on N.W. 5th Court on the 1900 Block, south of 20th Street. Unfortunately, the "1926 Hurricane" destroyed what had been accomplished on the building. The group was granted permission to hold services and meetings in the Dunbar Elementary School.

With great determination, the newly organized Trinity CME Church secured a new location on N. W. 5th Court, in the 2000 Block, north of 20th Street. Trinity became an official member of the C.M.E. General Conference in 1926. Rev. Pinkney became the first appointed pastor.

From 1928 - 1937, the church and parsonage progressed slowly but steadily under several pastors and a small membership. During those years, Mrs. Alice Coffee Guyton, a prominent figure in the community, became a financial benefactor to the church.

From 1939 - 1943, Rev. Louis H. Portlock, Sr. was appointed pastor. New leadership brought new encouragement. The church building and parsonage were sealed; electrical system and fixtures were updated. The church became a focal point for several civic and community programs.

From 1944 - 1957, the idea of a new parsonage was introduced. In 1956, the denomination officially changed its name to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. During that time, Mrs. Guyton, our financial benefactor, continued to play a significant role in Trinity's progress. However, in 1958, legal ties between Trinity and Mrs. Guyton were broken. Later that year, the city’s Improvement Program motivated interest for a new church location.

In 1960, under the leadership of Rev. Wesley V. Geary, Trinity purchased the Lutheran Methodist Church and parsonage located at N.W. 4th Street and N.W. 5th Avenue. In 1961, Rev. Geary and congregation marched from the old church to its new location. Years of adjustments, changes, and improvements followed. The church continued to progress under the leadership of Rev. Clarence C. Cowsen. In 1966, Trinity was host to the General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop E.P. Murchison was the presiding prelate at that time. In 1969, the church purchased the lot on the north side of the parsonage for parking purposes.

During the 1970's, Trinity's membership grew. Many improvements were made that enhanced the beauty of the physical plant, as well as other comforts for its members. This included the installation of a reverse cycle cooling and heating system, an electric organ, and the installation of new carpeting. Rev. Cowsen died on December 24, 1974. He had given more than ten years of faithful service and Christian guidance to the Trinity membership. Presiding Elder W.B. Jefferson completed the conference year as pastor. In 1975, the church surpassed the small church category due to their growth of more than 300 members.

In the 1980's, Trinity continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. H.C. Wilkes, a former City Councilman, which brought a new wholistic growth approach. The fellowship hall was renovated to include classrooms,

offices, a dressing room, and separate bathrooms, doing most of the work himself. He served as Chaplain for the City of Miami Police Department, influenced local education improvements, and was the founder of the African American Council of Christian Clergy. Developing both Clergy and Laity to attract and develop excellence was a part of his vision to prepare the church for 21st Century Service to the present age and beyond. He desired to make the church community a focal point where we would worship on Sunday so that the congregation can provide service to the community for the remaining six days of the week. Trinity became the spiritual, cultural, and political epicenter of the community.

In the late 1990's, a new parsonage was purchased in North Miami. Rev. Desi Echoles was the first pastor to reside in the new parsonage. During this period, the church focused on the need to nurture the youth of the community by forming "A Brighter Future, Inc."; which held classes and programs in the old parsonage next to the church.

The new millennium was a time for reflection, commitment, and sharing. Rev. Dr. Lynn Hargrow, Sr. served as pastor during this period. He ushered the church into a radical elevation of prayer and training classes. Under Rev. Hargrow, the church became a more bible-based tithe and offering church instead of a fundraising church.

Rev. Hattie D. Smith, to date, is the only female to serve as Lead Pastor of Trinity. Majoring in Pastoral Care and seeking to nurture closer to home, she started Bible Study ministries outside of the church at Florida Memorial College, Miami Rescue Mission, and within the Miami-Dade County Prison System. In addition, her added vocals to our Gospel Good News Choir helped the group reach new levels in ministry.

The year of 2010 brought new energy to the congregation in the form of a relatively young and most definitely energetic pastor in Rev. Marvin C. Lue, Jr. Charismatic worship with an emphasis on evangelism was the order of the day under Rev. Lue's leadership. The concept of a Summer Camp was brought into play in 2014, along with the renegotiation of the mortgage on the parsonage.

In 2014, another young and energetic pastor was appointed to lead Trinity. Rev. Marquise L. Hardrick, Sr., brought a focus on social justice and business/financial expertise. In 2015, the mortgage negotiations were finalized with a fixed-rate mortgage, over 40 kids participated in the Camp S.O.L.I.D (Survivor, Outlook, Limitless, Identity, Determined) Summer Camp Program, and the church entered into 3 lease agreements with Miami Central Brazilian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, LiUNA, and Giant Motors Body Shop for use of the church facilities during non-worship hours. In 2017, the mortgage on the parsonage was satisfied and the church was officially debt free. The church held activities to celebrate this great milestone throughout the entire month of December with a closing weekend of worship, fellowship, and a formal mortgage burning service/ceremony held on New Year’s Eve. In 2019, the old parsonage that stood adjacent to the sanctuary was deconstructed, and land space for future progress remained. Maximizing this land space, the church entered into an additional lease agreement with M & M Parking.

In 2020, Trinity and the World were struck with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Just like Jesus, God pushed us into the wilderness to test our faith and commitment to His will. God forced us to re-envision how we worshipped, served, connected, tended to temporal affairs, and oversaw stewardship. Access to worship and all activities moved beyond the limitations of physical space, distance, and even time. As a result, our territory was enlarged. We experienced increased levels of engagement and consistent contributions from individuals across the country and even had a following within Brazil. Under the direction of Pastor Hardrick and the officers of the church, Trinity seamlessly transitioned to a virtual ministry. Worship services, Bible Study, Sunday School, prayer meetings, concerts, fundraisers, Vacation Bible School, and all church meetings were streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live platforms. Although the joy of corporately seeking God and enjoying in-person fellowship with one another is something special that was sorely missed, Trinity realized that God was calling us to follow Him in new and exciting ways. We stretched boundaries and created new opportunities to expand our reach that were perfectly crafted for vibrant, gospel infused ministry. Our success brought us to the realization that while the church building facilitates the fellowship, worship, and ministry of God's people, the believers are the church and the church we were accustomed to needed to be reimagined to reflect the spiritual organism it truly is.

On the heels of COVID-19, having been out of our building for an extended period of time, the facility deteriorated faster than our ability to repair it. In 2022, the Church Conference voted to sell the facility. At the 2022 Annual Conference, Pastor Cal Hopkins was assigned as our pastor to lead us through the process. Pastor Hopkins came to Trinity with Real Estate experience having sold and managed real estate offices since 1979. Shortly after arriving, the City of Miami declared our facility an “unsafe structure.” The building, located at 511 NW 4th Street, was sold on December 6, 2024.

Even without a “church home,” Pastor Cal moved the church forward through worship at various locations such as a Banquet Hall in Miramar, a Hotel in Liberty City, to finally finding stability by renting from Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Church located at 2500 NW 50th Street. The church also moved forward in ministry by creating partnerships within Miami-Dade County. The church hosted a week-long Vacation Bible School at Touching Miami with Love for over 90 children in the Overtown Community. For Booker T. Washington Senior High School, the church contributed to the school’s Art Program, Transient Housing Fund, and Polo Shirt closet for students unable to afford school uniforms. With the Miami-Dade County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (MDCFAPA), the church provided annual donations of Easter Baskets and Backpacks filled with School Supplies. Each month, the church assists with the food giveaway held at Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Every Thanksgiving weekend, the church ministers with Mission 2 Mission for the “Giving Thanks in the Community” for unhoused individuals, and annually, the church host a Christmas Toy/Gift Card Drive for the Curley’s House in Liberty City.

While pastoring Trinity, Pastor Cal also serves as Presiding Elder of the South Florida District of the CME Church and continues to encourage Spiritual and Leadership growth as we continue our search for a new facility. Pastor Cal held annual member rededication services, annual Board Training, and inspired academic excellence for our Trinity Students through his Pastors’ Scholarship Fund. He and First Lady Denise Hopkins also hosted an Annual Children/Youth Fun Day and Christmas at the Parsonage. Under Pastor Hopkins’ leadership, the church has grown spiritually and numerically and on November 9, 2025, we experienced our Centennial Celebration.

And the story continues.........

Charter Members:

Bro. & Sis. Nathan Byron (Chairman of the Petition Committee)

Rev. J. L. Butler (Acting Minister)

Mrs. J.L. Butler

Bro. & Sis. Solomon

Bro. & Sis. Mobley

Sis. Mariah Fisher

Sis. Susie Grimmings

Bro & Sis. Arthur Ward

Bro. Ben Howell

Sis. Emma Strachan

Sis. Maude Ford

Bro. & Sis. Rutledge

Bro. & Sis. Dennis

Bro. & Sis. Jessie Hill

Bro. & Sis. Ike Ramsey

First New Members:

Bro. Ernest Tolliver

Sis. Naomi Bishop

Bro. Joseph Graham

Sis. Julia Graham

Sis. Beatrice Graham

Sis. Marie Collins

Sis. Daisy Avery

Sis. Ophelia Spencer

Bro. Henry MacFee

Bro. James H. Hall

Pastors:

1. Rev. J. L. Butler

2. Rev. Pinkney (1st Appointed Pastor)

3. Rev. O. J. Miles

4. Rev. Ford

5. Rev. Williams

6. Rev. J. Overstreet

7. Rev. S. H. Newburn

8. Rev. Louis H. Portlock, Sr.

9. Rev. Neal Martin

10. Rev. A. E. Wadlowe

11. Rev. Paul F. Fowlkes

12. Rev. Lawrence L. Reddick, Jr.

13. Rev. A. H. Harris

14. Rev. Wesley V. Geary

15. Rev. E. T. Brown

16. Rev. Clarence C. Cowsen (1962 - 1974)

17. Rev. Cornelius Bryant (1975 – 1979)

18. Rev. G.W. Wilson (1979 – 1983)

19. Rev. Gerald M. Powell (1983 – 1986)

20. Rev. H.C. Wilkes (1986 – 1996)

21. Rev. Desi L. Echoles (1996 – 1998)

22. Rev. Lynn Hargrow, Sr. (1998 – 2008)

23. Rev. Hattie D. Smith (2008 – 2010)

24. Rev. Marvin C. Lue, Jr. (2010 – 2014)

25. Rev. Marquise L. Hardrick, Sr. (2014 – 2022)

26. Rev. Calvin Hopkins (2022 - present)