Synod of the Trinity facts for kids
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| Formation | 1717, Philadelphia |
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| Type | Middle judicatory |
| Headquarters | Camp Hill, Pennsylvania |
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Region served
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Pennsylvania, most of West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio |
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Members
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126,756 (2021) |
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Parent organization
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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
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Formerly called
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Synod of Philadelphia, Synod of New York and Philadelphia, Synod of Pennsylvania, Synod of Pennsylvania-West Virginia |
The Synod of the Trinity is like a big regional group for Presbyterian churches. It's part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which is a type of Christian church. Its main office is in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. This group helps to guide and connect many local churches, called "presbyteries," across Pennsylvania, most of West Virginia, and a bit of eastern Ohio.
The Synod's Story
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America started in the area where the Synod of the Trinity is today. The Synod itself began in 1717. Back then, it was called the Synod of Philadelphia. It was formed when the Presbytery of Philadelphia split into three smaller groups: Philadelphia, New Castle, and Long Island. The new synod became a larger, guiding body for these groups.
Over time, the church faced some changes. In 1741, one group, the Presbytery of New Brunswick, left the synod. Later, in 1745, a leader named Jonathan Dickinson also left to start the Synod of New York. Dickinson was a big supporter of the First Great Awakening, a time of religious revival. He even started a school that later became Princeton University. In 1758, the two synods reunited and were called the Synod of New York and Philadelphia.
By 1851, the synod was known as the Synod of Philadelphia again. It had become one of the largest and most important synods in the Presbyterian Church. It covered all of Delaware, Maryland, and most of Pennsylvania. In 1882, its name changed to the Synod of Pennsylvania.
More changes happened in 1973. The church decided to create larger regional groups. So, the Synod of Pennsylvania joined with the Synod of West Virginia. They formed a new group called the Synod of Pennsylvania-West Virginia. Finally, in 1983, when the church reunited fully, some presbyteries from eastern Ohio joined the synod. At that point, the name was changed to the Synod of the Trinity, which it is still called today.
What Are Presbyteries?
A "presbytery" is a group of local Presbyterian churches in a certain area. It's like a mini-synod. The Synod of the Trinity oversees sixteen of these presbyteries. You can see a map of these areas on the Synod's website.
Here are some of the presbyteries that are part of the Synod of the Trinity:
- Philadelphia
- Presbytery of Redstone (Visit their website: [1])
- Washington Presbytery (Visit their website: [2])
More Information
You can find 81 historic Presbyterian sites within the area of the Synod of the Trinity. These sites are listed by the Presbyterian Historical Society.
