Trinity Presbyterian Church Celebrates 65th Anniversary

Trinity Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City was founded as Oklahoma’s first formally desegregated/racially integrated church, 65 years ago. It is planning a celebration/homecoming this fall. Details to come.

Trinity’s church building was built in 1945 as Creston Hills Presbyterian Church. By the late 1950s, white flight, as a reaction to school desegregation, had decimated the congregation. Meanwhile, an all-black church, Bethany Presbyterian Church, was struggling because Blacks were moving north. Bethany had recently merged with Mt. Moriah Presbyterian Church.

Both Bethany and Creston Hills were struggling amid upheaval in their neighborhoods. Creston Hills wanted to move or disband. The Washita Presbytery, precursor to the present Indian Nations Presbytery, considered it but ultimately rejected the idea.

In 1960, under the close hand of the presbytery, the churches came together in a merger to become the first formally integrated church in Oklahoma, Bethany-Creston Hills Presbyterian Church. The next year, it took a new name, Trinity Presbyterian Church. In 2019, the church house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As part of the church’s anniversary, it has kicked off a “Give 65” fund-raising campaign. As the church’s pastor, Rev. Richard Mize, says: “If you give, give an extra $65! An extra $650! If you give already or not, and you support us, the work of the church and the work of racial reconciliation, and wish us well, give $65! Give $650! Call us crazy! Give $6,500! Give $65,000! Or, give $6.50. Give 65 cents. Give 6.5 percent more next time – or from now on. Be creative!”