Trinity Baptist Church has stood on Manhattan's East Side for more than 150 years, rooted first in a Swedish seafaring tradition and today in a diverse congregation that draws New Yorkers from every background into a shared life of worship, community, and service. Located at 250 East 61st Street, the church sits in the heart of one of the most cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the city and has grown into a presence that welcomes curious seekers, committed believers, and everyone in between.
A Manhattan Congregation Since 1867
Trinity's story begins with Swedish converts who brought Baptist beliefs back to Scandinavia in the mid-nineteenth century and faced persecution for their refusal to use state-appointed pastors, their preference for believer's immersion, and their practice of gathering for worship in homes. Many fled to America, and in 1865 Captain R. E. Jeanson of Gothenburg, having come to faith as a Baptist, settled in New York. On Sunday, December 22, 1867, fifteen men and nineteen women gathered to found the First Swedish Baptist Church of New York, initially worshipping at the Mariner's Church near the lower Manhattan docks.
The young congregation moved uptown to the Colgate Chapel on 20th Street in 1884, then bought its own building on 27th Street in 1893. By the turn of the century it had planted three daughter congregations in Brooklyn, New Jersey, and the Bronx. Members returned to the docks to greet newly arrived Swedish immigrants and invite them into a spiritual home, a ministry of welcome that remains central to Trinity's identity.
In 1929, a building boom gave the church the opportunity to sell its 55th Street property and purchase land on 61st Street, where they commissioned architect Martin Gravely Hedmark to design a new sanctuary. The richly symbolic building was dedicated on January 21, 1931. As Swedish immigration slowed and younger generations grew up speaking English, the congregation changed its worship language to English in 1942 and adopted the name Trinity Baptist Church.
The mid-twentieth-century exodus to the suburbs nearly closed Trinity's doors, but the Baptist General Conference and a small group of committed New York believers kept the church alive. The dismantling of the elevated trains on Second and Third Avenues, urban renewal, and the return of residents to the East Side ushered in a period of growth through the 1980s and 1990s. Today, Trinity continues to welcome a steady stream of newcomers to New York, integrating them into a unified spiritual fellowship marked, in the church's words, by "a spirit of love and caring that suggests the presence of God."
The Sanctuary on 61st Street
The Trinity sanctuary is more than a worship space; it is itself a work of devotional architecture. Martin Gravely Hedmark designed a building whose symbolism points worshipers to the central stories of the Christian faith: scenes from the life and ministry of Christ, the baptism of the Spirit and water, the vine, the garden, the bread and wine, sowing and reaping, the dove of the Holy Spirit, and the all-knowing God. The church encourages visitors to spend a quiet afternoon in the sanctuary with a Bible and a concordance, meditating on the references represented in the building's features as a way of deepening worship and life in Christ.
The historic building has stairs from the entrance into other areas, and the church notes that its facility is not fully ADA accessible. Visitors who need help navigating the space can contact the Welcome and Connection Ministry team in advance for assistance.
Two Sunday Services on East 61st Street
Trinity now holds two Sunday services at 250 East 61st Street: 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM. Each service runs approximately one hour and twenty minutes. Both gatherings take place in person, and the 11:15 AM service is livestreamed on the Trinity Baptist Church YouTube channel and remains available on demand afterward.
Family Ministry programming for infants through fifth grade is offered during both services, giving parents flexibility in choosing a worship time. Middle and High School programming is offered during the second service only, an intentional structure designed to keep students together for deeper relationships and meaningful discipleship during these formative years.
A Blend of Hymns, Gospel, and Contemporary Songs
Trinity's worship reflects the diversity of its congregation. Each Sunday the musical program moves between hymns, contemporary songs, gospel selections, choir pieces, and acoustic sets, all in service of telling the story of Jesus. Worship Director Marty Mikles designs services centered on the gospel of Jesus with the goal of drawing people into the presence of God, drawing on more than twenty-five years of worship-leading experience and a background in music production.
Members and visitors step forward from the pews to lead parts of the service, and the number of open Bibles and notebooks during the sermon signals the seriousness with which the congregation approaches Scripture. The teaching is described by the church as thoughtful, attentive to the historical and contextual meaning of the Bible, applicable to daily life without being prescriptive, and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide each heart and mind. Communion is shared every Sunday, and visitors who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior are invited to observe, reflect, or pray during that time.
Family Ministry: From Nursery to High School
Family Ministry Director Genille Perez leads a program that supports families of every shape and size with educational programs, nursery care, events, and resources. The ministry is organized by age, with each stage designed to nurture children and students as they grow.
Infants and Toddlers experience their first church interactions through play, stories, and songs in a warm, secure space where professional childcare staff tend to naps, snacks, bottles, and diaper needs. A private, lockable nursing room is available upon request. Preschool and Kindergarten children explore God, Jesus, and the Bible through structured play, crafts, and worship songs designed to spark curiosity and lay a foundation for spiritual development. Elementary students encounter Old and New Testament stories through workshops that use art, cooking, drama, games, and other creative methods to build a lifelong love of God.
Middle School students gather to deepen their faith and understanding of God's love and purpose, navigating the social, emotional, and spiritual challenges of adolescence in a supportive community. High School students engage in life-applicable discussions that incorporate biblical teaching, explore identity in Christ, tackle faith and doubt, and develop leadership and community as they prepare for adulthood. Parents are supported through seasonal classes and events designed to foster family bonding and shared experiences.
The church welcomes children with special needs and works with families to develop transition plans and accommodations. Parents may accompany a child in the classroom during a transition period, and the ministry publishes a detailed Family Ministry Safety Policies document for review. The church does not perform baby baptisms but holds special baby dedication services throughout the year to celebrate and pray for young children. Parents are encouraged but not required to volunteer; the church recommends volunteering once per quarter in a child's age group.
Trinity Summer Camp
Each summer, Trinity runs a Vacation Bible School style day camp that welcomes children from all backgrounds and faith traditions. The program combines age-appropriate Bible lessons, worship, team games, small groups, crafts, music, and themed snacks. Campers bring a bagged lunch each day, and parents are welcome to drop off or to stay and serve as volunteers. The church provides adult volunteers as well as a Youth Crew for middle and high schoolers who want to help. Safety protocols include background checks for volunteers, supervision during activities, and emergency procedures.
Small Groups Across the Week
Small Groups are central to Trinity's approach to discipleship and community. Most groups meet weekly or biweekly for a mix of Scripture, conversation, and fellowship. The current lineup includes a Sunday Mixed Small Group led by Allan Yu; a Sunday Christianity 101 group led by Bryan Miller; and The Walk, a Sunday group for adults in their twenties through mid-forties led by Bennett and Cara Austin.
On Mondays, Laura Crim leads a Central Park North Women's Small Group and Spring Condoyan leads a 50s+ Women's Small Group. Tuesdays bring a Mixed Small Group led by Daniela Ramirez and Jenny Lessman, a Women's Small Group led by Meredith Gandy, and a Men's Small Group for Professionals led by Sam Paik. Wednesdays feature Life Together 55+ led by Rejane Santana and Ryan Dennis. Thursdays include an International Women's Small Group led by Crystal Poon and a Newly Married and Engaged Couples group led by Michael Lee and Olivia Ghaw. Several groups also keep in touch throughout the week through messaging channels accessible via the Trinity App.
Beliefs Rooted in Scripture
Trinity Baptist Church confesses faith in one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - equal in every divine perfection, and engaged in distinct but harmonious work in creation, providence, and redemption. The church teaches that God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love, who hears and answers prayer; that God the Son became a human being in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, who through his sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning death and victorious bodily resurrection made it possible for people to enter into relationship with God; and that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers believers, indwells every Christian, and gives gifts to be used for the benefit of God's Kingdom.
The Bible is described as the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, with supreme authority over faith and life. Trinity recognizes two ordinances committed by Christ to the local church: baptism by immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God, and the Lord's Supper, observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is taught as coming to the repentant sinner only by grace through faith in what God has done, not through good works or religious observance. The church affirms the dignity of every human being as created in God's image, believes in the universal church of all who have trusted in Christ regardless of denominational affiliation, and holds to the separation of church and state and the independence of each local church from ecclesiastical or political authority. Trinity teaches that every person has an eternal destiny determined by faith in Jesus Christ, with believers spending eternity with God and those who do not believe separated from him.
Walking Through Faith Together: Core Values
Trinity sums up its life in three rhythms - worship, growth, and service. Worship is described as a heartfelt celebration rooted in the commitment to honor God as the central focus of the church's life and as more than an event: it is a manifestation of communal faith. Growth happens as members challenge, encourage, and support one another in understanding and living out their faith, ensuring that no one walks alone. Service flows from a commitment to justice and compassion and is concentrated in three areas: addressing immigration challenges, combating homelessness, and supporting initiatives in Rwanda.
The church also names a set of values drawn from Scripture: Service, rooted in the New Testament idea of diakonos; Significant Relationships, marked by the new commandment to love one another; Celebratory Worship, where the sacred meets everyday life; Practical Biblical Teaching, built on the conviction that Scripture is "God-breathed" and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness; Reconciliation, expressed through harmony, peace, and unity in the body of Christ; and Generosity, which the church describes as the apex of sacrifice.
Serving New York City and Rwanda
Trinity's Missions Ministry supports both local outreach and global work, spreading God's love through service projects, partnerships, and mission trips. Locally, the church focuses on immigration and homelessness, and members have traveled on multiple Trinity mission trips to Rwanda. The church partners with Rwandan ministries through a child sponsorship program and the Nyamagabe Life Skills Program, which empowers Rwandan women to build a future of dignity and hope.
Locally, the Care Ministry connects those who need practical support with members who can offer help; the Welcome and Connection Ministry greets attendees, directs newcomers, and serves communion; and ministry deacons for Men, Women, Family, and Prayer stand ready to help people find a place to belong. Volunteers are encouraged to serve on teams including the Welcome and Connection, Worship, Prayer, and Family ministries.
The People Who Lead Trinity
Brian Newby serves as Lead Pastor. He spent ten years in Dallas as a pastor at Northwest Bible Church, where he developed one of the largest church-based ministries to refugees in the nation. He holds a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. Brian, his wife Laura, and their son Elijah live in New York City.
Ryan Dennis serves as Executive Pastor. Before moving to New York in 2018, Ryan served as Lead Pastor at Fairview Community Baptist Church and served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board. He brings more than six years of experience in Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Audit, and Risk Consulting to his role, along with a BBA in Management from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He and his wife Maria have a daughter, Madeleine, and have called Trinity their church home since 2018.
Marty Mikles serves as Worship Director. With more than twenty-five years of worship-leading experience and fifteen years of expertise in music production and audio engineering, Marty designs worship services that are centered on the gospel of Jesus with the aim of drawing people into the presence of God. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he lives in New York with his wife Joy and their children Justice and Grace.
Genille Perez serves as Family Ministry Director. A first-generation American from the Dominican Republic who grew up in New England, Genille has been part of Trinity for more than fifteen years, contributing across worship arts, youth ministry, and local outreach. She draws on years of growing up under her father as her pastor and on her career in event planning and project management to create curricula and experiences that teach children and youth about the love and joy of the Lord. She and her husband Rick have two sons, Marco and Lorenzo.
The Elders of Trinity - Fred Atkins, Dave Page, Duane Smith, and Timothy Tien - serve as shepherds of the congregation, engaging members through prayer, counseling, and practical solutions to life's challenges. They ensure the spiritual vitality of the community, check that teaching remains faithful to Scripture, and oversee the deacons. A Board of Trustees manages the church's resources and properties, reviews audits and budgets, and addresses legal matters in coordination with the elders and Executive Pastor.
Staying Connected: The Trinity App
Trinity maintains an active presence through the Trinity App, available through Subsplash. The app keeps members up to date on events and small groups, offers push notifications, and provides a way to give, watch sermons, request prayer or care, sign up for baptism, request space use, and connect with ministries. A desktop application is also available for those who prefer to participate in messaging groups from a computer.
The church welcomes anyone who walks through the door at 250 East 61st Street, no matter where they find themselves on their journey of faith. For those ready to take a next step, options include signing up for a Sunday Meet and Greet, joining Pastor Brian for Bagels with Brian after a service, or attending Onramp, a 90-minute session designed to introduce newcomers to Trinity's mission and values. Coffee hour follows each Sunday service in the Fellowship Hall or outside when weather permits.