The Formation of The Trinity Benefice

On 24th May 2000 a historic meeting took place in St George's Church.

Over 100 parishioners were present from each of the three churches, Holy Trinity, St George's and St Paul's, and the meeting was chaired by the Area Dean, Canon Reg Humphries. He spoke of the history of the three churches, especially the recent history of the Joint Benefice of St George's and St Paul's, which included two lengthy interregnums. He also spoke of the manpower crisis affecting the Church of England and the need to reduce the number of stipendiary posts in this deanery. He proposed a single Benefice.

Rev John Tapper, the Vicar of Holy Trinity since 1994 then spoke. He unveiled a three-legged stool, and suggested that in the same way as it would collapse if one leg was removed, then the new benefice would depend on the contribution of all three churches, with a balance to be achieved between the three. He indicated his willingness to act as leader on the following programme:

1. Each church to retain and in the long term develop its own identity.

2. Each church to retain its PCC and Wardens and be responsible for its own quota and maintenance of buildings.

3. For a paid administrator to be appointed, and for the Diocese to be asked to commit to a stipendiary Curate.

The proposal was carried by 99 votes to 3 against.

On the 1st July 2000 the benefice was informally formed and during the the next six years the Churchwardens, PCC's and congregations of the three churches worked together to iron out the few problems that arose.
In 2006 this co-operation resulted in all three PCC's agreeing to go ahead with the formal creation of the Benefice, and in the formal constitution by the Privy Council of the Trinity Benefice, Folkestone on 1st July 2006.

The Rev. Canon John Tapper, having seen the realisation of the Benefice to its conclusion, retired in January 2007, and the new Vicar of the Benefice, the Rev. Mark Hayton assumed the mantle in May of that year.