As of this writing, November 6, 1987. MaCera has not submitted a parish history. Lacking that, the following is extracted from the Rev. D. 0. Kelley's Reminiscences and from the notice in the Appendix to his History of the Diocese of California.
'The new County of Madera had been recently formed from that part of Fresno County lving north of the San Joaquin River, with the ambitious young "City" of Madera as its County Seat. (Ed.: 'Madera" is Spanish for "wood"; the city was located at the end of a long loggers' flume from the Sierras.)
Though I had been through and about there somewhat it was not until the early part of 1890 that the way seemed clear for attempting any regular ministrations. It was on a weekday evening. March 27, that the first public service was held. in a hall, with an attendance of thirty-three persons, including several (Church people or families the Newmans, the Woolleys, the Goodens, and perhaps the Mordecais from several miles away in the country. I was now convinced that these made a nucleus for a beginning, and that there was a considerable promise of growth for the new town and County, and so determined to inaugurate a new mission district. And so from that time on regular services were held. From the start we were specially fortunate in having quite good and complete music, which soon resulted in a small vested choir.
"The first Sunday service was on the evening of September 14, with a congregation of 75! - and a baptism of a child. The latter part of November a Sunday School was started. On Sunday morning, January 11, 1891, the first public celebration of the Holy Communion was held, with nine persons receiving, and on the following Wednesday evening Bishop Nichols preached and confirmed a class of eight, including Robert B. Gooden, who afterwards entered the Holy Ministry. (Ed.: He was later consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles, and lived to be 102. His funeral services were held at St. Mark's Church, Glendale, and he was interred in the family burial plot in Santa Barbara. His son, Heber, was also consecrated Bishop of Panama.) This was Bishop William Ford Nichols' (then Assistant Bishop) first Confirmation in my 'jurisdiction", the next being in St. James' Church, Fresno, on Sunday morning. January 25th The Church was packed with a congregation of 240, sixty of whom received the Holy Communion. That was the first time the new recess chancel was used. 'Trinity Mission, Madera, was duly organized in 1890."
(From the History of the Diocese of California, p. 397)
"Services were begun here in 1890 by D. 0. Kelley, and the mission was organized November 22, with James Gooden as Warden, J. F. Newman as Treasurer and Wm. Woolley Clerk, all communicants. In '92 Octavius Parker was sent as missionary. Church built '93. W. M. Bours rnissionary in '95, and Dr. Geo. H. Jenks, Oct. 1, '98. Church consecrated Oct.26, 1902. Nelson Saunders missionary, '04-'06. J. Nicholas. '07."
