The history of this church in Janesville dates from August, 1844, when the Rev. Thomas J. RUGER came to Janesville as a missionary, sent out by the Domestic Board of Missions, from the diocese of New York. On September 18 a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal church, and at this meeting the following wardens and vestrymen were elected: Wardens, William LUPTON and J. Bodwell DOE; vestrymen, William B. SHELDON, A. Hyatt SMITH, John J. R. PEASE, Guy STOUGHTON, Joseph CROFT, A. C. WOOD, A. C. BAILEY, and Isaac WOODLE. Until January, 1846, services were held in the small brick school house on the corner of Milwaukee and Bluff streets. At the end of two years a parish was organized. Mr. RUGER became rector, and remained in that position until 1855. At a vestry meeting held July 5, 1847, it was voted that a church building should be constructed without delay. Lot 83, in Smith & Bailey's addition, west side, was donated by A. Hyatt SMITH, and the work of building Trinity Church was begun. The building was constructed in June 1848. The list of rectors who have been in charge since the formation of the parish are in order following: The Revs. Thomas RUGER, Samuel S. ETHRIDGE, J. M. COE, Hiram BEERS, Fayette DURLIN, George WALLACE and F. W. McLEAN.   [Source: Rock County, Wisconsin: A new history of it's cities, villages, etc., Vol. I, by William Fiske Brown (editor-in-chief); ©1908 C. F. Cooper, Chicago, IL; pp. 293-295]