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Who We Are

About Trinity Methodist Church

Our church is more than handmade brick, wood, and stained glass. It’s the faith of the people who founded Mount Zion church in 1840 and who rebuilt on this site after destruction by Civil War, fire, and storm. It’s also the courage to stand together for Christ in every era.

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OurMission

Living as, and leading others to become, disciples of Jesus Christ

What We Believe

Together, we want to reflect the teachings of God’s word in our world by the Lord’s grace, and to share Christ’s message of hope with everyone. Click below to see more about what we believe.

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Our Leaders

about Pastor Samuel Clarke

Sam Clarke, Pastor

Our Pastor/Teacher, Sam Clarke, applies his unique combination of study and experiences to offer vibrant Biblical preaching and teaching on the Kingdom of Almighty God and today’s world.

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Lynn McGill

Music Director

Our Director of Music Ministries, Lynn McGill, is led by his conviction that music and musical talent are gifts from God, and that the performance of excellent music is a gift to those who worship Him.

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about Lynn McGill
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Donnie Hartsock

President, Family Council

Renita Hartsock

Lay Leader
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Our Faith Heritage

Our history reflects the faith, work and perseverance of our founders and all those who came after them.

Trinity Church began with the founding of Mount Zion church nearby in the 1840s in eastern Williamson County. After the U.S. Army demolished it during the Civil War, members bought our current site in 1865 and began construction, even making bricks on site for the two-story building.

The building was almost destroyed by a tornado in 1897, and again in 1909. The stained-glass windows donated in 1916 have seen many changes, most recently our decision to become independent of the United Methodist Church.

Through celebrations and setbacks, the Trinity Methodist Church family and our historic facility continue to serve by God’s grace and power.

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about Lynn McGill

Lynn McGill

Music Director

Lynn is led by his conviction that music and musical talent are gifts from God, and that the performance of excellent music is a gift to those who worship Him. If music speaks to listeners in the pews or on the internet, lifting their spirits to the Lord and helping them feel at home at God’s altar, it is good and right.

Bringing disciples to the Lord is the highest calling for any church musician, and only happens when the musicians fully commit themselves. This belief comes from Lynn’s years of education and experience in churches, universities, and community organizations, including serving as a life member of the American Choral Directors Association and its state President.

Lynn holds three advanced degrees in music education and choral directing, and was music department chair, Director of Choral Activities, and Associate Professor of Music at Tennessee Wesleyan University. He also led music ministries at churches in Manchester, Shelbyville, Oak Ridge, Athens, and Knoxville, Tennessee, and served on the Tennessee Arts Council Advisory Board.

He and his wife Linda make their home in Franklin. They have four adult children and three grandchildren.

about Pastor Samuel Clarke

Pastor Samuel Clarke

Sam applies his unique combination of study and experiences to offer vibrant Biblical preaching and teaching on the Kingdom of Almighty God and today’s world.

He was first called to ministry after 23 years in the business world. In 1997, he graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA, with a Master of Divinity. Since then, he has served Episcopal congregations in Winchester, TN, Hendersonville, TN, and Winter Park, FL. In June of 2022, he was called as Trinity’s pastor.

In addition to pastoral ministry, in 2007, Sam was called by the International Christian Embassy and Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, to be the first director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem. He shares a deep appreciation for the Jewish heritage of the Christian faith, along with a love for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He is married to Marianne Herbert Clarke, whose Herbert and Wilson ancestors were founding families of Trinity Methodist Church in 1865. Sam and Marianne were married in 1988 and, between them, have 5 children and 13 grandchildren.