Our Story

About four miles to the southeast of the College was the town of Pendleton. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, established there in 1819, was the first Episcopal parish in the northwestern portion of the state. Rectors from St. Paul’s began ministering to Episcopal families in adjacent towns and communities, including those at Fort Hill. By 1895 the rector of St. Paul’s had begun holding services in the vicinity of Clemson College, or the prospective town of Calhoun, which was later incorporated as Clemson. The establishment of Clemson College increased the number of congregants in the Calhoun area.  Accordingly, a plan was developed for a chapel near Clemson College. Holy Trinity Chapel was built in 1899 and consecrated on December 3rd of that year. Therefore, that day is considered the birthday of this parish. The shift in attendance from St. Paul’s to Holy Trinity led to its being designated an “Organized Mission” of the Diocese of South Carolina on January 2, 1901. 

In his first report to the Diocese in 1901, Missionary-in-Charge, the Rev. Benjamin Anderson, noted 78 members spread among 19 families. He also noted that the monthly services attracted “70 Episcopalians among the college students, many of whom are communicants and regular attendants at the Sunday School and services of Holy Trinity.”

 In 1902, the Rev. Kirkman Finlay was appointed Missionary-in-Charge and served Holy Trinity until 1907. During his tenure a rectory was built, in part employing Mr. Finlay’s own labor. Under the Rev. Finlay and in subsequent years Holy Trinity grew substantially. Accordingly, under the leadership of the next rector, the Rev. James Stoney, the Mission applied to the Diocese of South Carolina for parish status, which was granted in 1918.  The Rev. Stoney took a leave of absence to serve in WW I, and he later became Bishop of New Mexico and Southwest Texas. When the Diocese of South Carolina was divided in 1922, Mr. Finlay. The former rector, was elected the first bishop of the newly-formed Diocese of Upper South Carolina. 

In 1928 the wooden chapel was reoriented and bricked, and a bell tower was added, although no bells were installed until approximately 1960. Those bells now reside in the current belltower. At the same time, a parish house was built adjoining the church building with a vestibule. To honor Bishop Finlay, Holy Trinity named its parish house for the man who had shepherded the mission through its challenging early days. The parish house became a center of community activity, including basketball games, Cotillion Club dances and plays by the Clemson Little Theatre. It also served as a dormitory for young ladies visiting Clemson cadets. 

_{Growth of the Parish}

In 1935, the Great Depression was still a major influence on all aspects of life. Faculty salaries were low, and recent graduates of Clemson College were joining the Civilian Conservation Corps and other government agencies. Since most communicants at Holy Trinity were employed by the College, cutbacks at the parish became severe enough that it reverted to Mission status in 1940. 

However, with the influx of veteran students and their families after the end of WW II, and the conversion of Clemson College to a co-educational and civilian institution in 1955, Holy Trinity began a new cycle of growth, which ultimately led to the Mission being approved for reaffirmation to parish status in 1960.  Also, in 1960 the Parish expanded its mission by establishing the Episcopal Day School. The new rector, the Rev. Marshall James, arranged for parishioner Rose Huff to move her home-centered day care center to Holy Trinity, and Mrs. Huff became the Day School’s first director. 

With the building of the connected reservoir system of Lakes Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee in the 1960’s and 70’s, much valuable real estate was created, attracting many new residents to the region.

_{Expansion of the Physical Plant}

As early as 1970, his first year as rector, the Rev. Thomas Davis, Jr. noted the poor condition of the physical facilities and placed a priority on their renewal. Validating jokes about how slowly change happens in an Episcopal church, it took a full twenty years until steps were taken to consolidate plans for construction of a new church building and parish house, and to provide greatly improved parking. Because of our ministry to the college community the vestry had on at least two occasions committed to remaining at our current location on what had come to be known as “Holy Hill”, shared with the Methodist Church. Finally, on September 10, 1995, the new church, erected on the site of the former rectory, was consecrated by Bishop Dorsey Henderson. Mr. Davis retired from Holy Trinity on December 31, 1995, with over 25 years’ service, the longest of any parish rector. The Rose Window was given in his honor to recognize his significant contributions to Holy Trinity. 

The current parish house was dedicated in 1997, retaining Bishop Finlay’s name. In 2008 the Parish purchased from developers the former building and surrounding property of Clemson United Methodist Church, whose members had chosen to relocate on a larger but more distant site. This space currently houses Trinity Place, with the SAME (So All May Eat) Garden, green space, additional parking and an outdoor pavilion. Trinity Place was dedicated in 2020 by Holy Trinity’s first female rector, the Rev. Suzanne Cate, who was called in 2016.   

At the time of construction of the church, the altar area was not satisfactorily completed, and the organ, which dated from 1977, needed updating.  Accordingly, funds were raised to create a new reredos, and a replacement organ was installed.