HISTORY
The Church of England established and supported some churches in the colonies, St. George Church, Hempstead being among them. The people of Rockaway, which is what our whole area was called in the colonial days, had to travel all the way to Hempstead to worship. Many people made this long journey to be communicants of St. George's, but they longed for a place to worship nearer home. In 1817, knowing of their need, the Governor of New York gave the community an old block house for this purpose. The rectors of St. George's and Grace Church in Jamaica conducted monthly services in the afternoon in this building when they were finished with their labors in their own parishes.
In 1835, perceiving their interest, St. George's founded a mission in the Rockaways. A chapel was built with donations of land, materials and money from local families. It was completed and dedicated in 1836 and was given the name Trinity Chapel, Rockaway. Eight years later, upon petition from a committee from Trinity Chapel, St. George's transferred the trusteeship of the chapel to the newly formed Parish of Trinity Church, Rockaway. A vestry was elected, a minister was called and at last the people had a church in their own community. For the next 34 years this parish prospered. The congregations outgrew the old chapel and in 1877 the present building was erected. This is still the church (with many refinements over the years) wherein we worship. The old chapel is now the center of the parish hall.
It is interesting to note that in 1858 history repeated itself when the people who lived further west asked Trinity Church to establish a chapel for them. It was built on Mott Street and was called Trinity Chapel. Like its mother church it too prospered, and became a church in 1881 taking the name St. John's Church, Far Rockaway.
In later years, as the character of these communities changed, it became evident that it would be prudent to merge these two churches. In March 1973, Trinity-St. John's Church was formed. The Church building in Rockaway was sold and the combined congregations of more than 300 families nor worship in this parish. Since the merger of the churches we have had one rector, in addition to several curates and/or associates.
