Trinity on the Green stands on the New Haven Green in downtown New Haven, Connecticut, a few steps from Yale's oldest buildings. The congregation was organized as a parish in November 1723 by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson to introduce Congregational New Englanders to an Anglican style of worship, and the present neo-Gothic church was completed in 1816. The parish's own motto - "An Episcopal Church in the Heart of the City, with the City at Heart" - sums up a double identity: a traditional Anglican church on the outside, with a deep investment in the city of New Haven on the inside.
Three Hundred Years on the New Haven Green
Trinity was a community of people before it was a building. Its first church was constructed in 1752 just south of the New Haven Green on Church Street, on land that had once been the home of Paugussett, Quinnipiac, and Wappinger peoples. As the parish outgrew that first structure, plans were drawn for a larger one alongside two Congregational churches down the middle of the New Haven Green, a sign of the era's growing religious tolerance. The architect Ithiel Town designed the present building in a neo-Gothic style, and it was built in 1814 and 1815 using the dark red "trap rock" of the region. The building remains on the Green today and is a National Historic Landmark.
The nineteenth century brought major changes to the congregation. Black people, both free and enslaved, regularly attended Trinity. Notably, the last two enslaved people to be sold at auction on the New Haven Green were mother and daughter Lucy and Lois Tritton, affiliated with Trinity through the family that owned them. The parish tells their story as a reminder of how much remains undone in the work of racial justice. Trinity's rector from 1815 to 1858, the Rev. Harry Croswell, was an ally of New Haven's Black community and a strong advocate for the ordination of Jacob Oson, the fifth Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church. In 1842, however, the same vestry required Black parishioners to sit in specific pews toward the back of the church, a decision that drove some of those parishioners to form their own parish, St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Members of Trinity and St. Luke's today meet regularly as part of the St. Luke and Trinity Reconciliation Project.
The late nineteenth century was a time of growing affection for the Anglican choral tradition. The Rev. Dr. Edwin Harwood (Rector 1859-95) traveled to England, heard cathedral choirs, and encouraged Trinity to form a vested choir. The Choir of Men and Boys was founded in 1885. Other physical changes followed: a chancel with choir stalls, an "east-facing" altar, painted walls, and Tiffany stained-glass windows - features that give the interior much of its look today. Generous gifts from benefactors such as Lucy Boardman (1819-1906) funded not only beautification of the church but also the founding of Trinity Home, a residence for aging and impoverished women, a ministry that continues through the Trinity Home Board.
The twentieth century brought further expansion. A Parish House on the corner of Whitney Avenue and Wall Street (in use from 1925 to 1980) hosted Sunday School and a wide range of social events. The parish's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ was installed in 1935 and remains a model instrument. A massive building project in 1961-62 created the Undercroft beneath the church, a basement full of meeting spaces and a kitchen that anchors much of parish activity. The Trinity Players was founded in 1975 to present the Gospel through dramatic form, and in 2003 Trinity expanded its choral ministry with the Choir of Men and Girls. Today the parish describes its mission with a phrase borrowed from recent years: "in the heart of the city, with the city at heart."
How the Sunday Services Fit Together
Trinity gathers three times a week inside the church and once outside on the Green. All are rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, the prayer book common to Episcopal congregations across the United States and Anglican churches around the world.
On Sundays, the day opens at 7:45 a.m. with a Quiet Eucharist using Rite I, a contemplative service with no music and no sermon. The principal Sunday liturgy begins at 10:30 a.m. Most weeks it takes the form of a Community Eucharist, with choral music from one of the choirs. On the final Sunday of the month, the 10:30 a.m. slot becomes Choral Morning Prayer, Rite I, a traditional Anglican service in which the choir has room to expand. Many Sundays there is also a Family Eucharist offered downstairs in the Undercroft, designed for households with young children.
At 2 p.m. each Sunday, weather permitting, the parish gathers for Chapel on the Green, an outdoor worship service on the New Haven Green followed by a shared meal for people who grapple with hunger, homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction. (Chapel on the Green is described in greater detail below.)
Midweek, the parish gathers on Wednesdays at 12:10 p.m. for a Rite II Quiet Eucharist. On Thursdays during the regular season (mid-September through May), Choral Evensong is sung at 5:30 p.m., a meditative Evening Office drawn from the late medieval English tradition. The Thursday service is livestreamed.
Trinity also offers afternoon services monthly during the regular church year, including Evensong sung by the Choir of Men and Boys or the Choir of Men and Girls, and Taizé services - an ecumenical form of worship built around candlelight, repeated chant, scripture readings, and silence.
The Shape of Worship
Trinity describes itself as a "liturgical" church, which means the structure of services follows set forms from the Book of Common Prayer rather than being improvised each week. That continuity gives worship a familiar rhythm across the seasons of the church year.
Each celebration of the Holy Eucharist has the same shape: an opening prayer, readings from scripture, the recitation of the Nicene Creed, prayers of the people (for the church, the world, those in need, and those who have died), the exchange of the peace, and the sharing of bread and wine. The parish teaches that Christ's body and blood are really present in the sacrament of the Eucharist but does not attempt to define the mystery of how. The invitation to receive is extended to everyone, regardless of church affiliation or where someone may be on their faith journey.
What one wears is not a matter of concern at Trinity. Parishioners and visitors dress across a full range of styles, and the parish writes, "No matter who you are, how you're dressed, or what your station in life, you'll find others like yourself at each service."
A Choral Tradition Reaching Back to 1885
Music is one of Trinity's most distinctive offerings. The Choir of Men and Boys, founded in 1885, is the senior choir; the Choir of Men and Girls, founded in 2003 by Walden Moore, is its companion ensemble. The Choir of Adults and Girls sings services as well, and a Chorister Program trains young singers. A Parish Choir, a Summer Choir, and a Summer Quartet carry worship through the warmer months. The full list of ensembles is rounded out at scheduling by a Schola and a group called Fundamentum.
The parish's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, installed in 1935, sits at the front of the church and is one of the instruments of its era. It is currently the subject of a planned restoration, and recordings of organ repertoire performed by the parish's organists are part of the parish's online music archive. Music at Trinity runs the gamut from Anglican chant and Tudor polyphony (Howells, Victoria, Eccard) to contemporary settings by living composers such as B. E. Boykin and Katherine Burk, and from anthems by John Rutter and Benjamin Britten to hymns by Marty Haugen.
Beyond Sunday worship, the music program produces a Christmas concert each year, a spring concert, a Good Friday offering by the Trinity Boy Choristers, and concerts by visiting ensembles. A silent-film series has included a showing of the 1925 Phantom of the Opera with improvised organ accompaniment.
Chapel on the Green: A Sunday Afternoon Outside
Chapel on the Green was founded by Trinity in 2007 after the parish's youth group visited the outdoor ministry on Boston Common. Meeting at 2 p.m. each Sunday on the New Haven Green outside the church, Chapel on the Green offers a half-hour worship service followed by a hot lunch. It is staffed by a part-time coordinator and supported by volunteers and by Trinity's Deacon for Urban Ministry, Kyle Pedersen, and a Pastoral Associate for the Homeless, the Rev. Dr. Charles Lemert. A separate Chapel on the Green Spiritual Care Hotline (860-850-0323) remains available to anyone grappling with hunger, homelessness, mental health, or addiction.
The ministry is a spiritual home for many of the most vulnerable people in New Haven. Trinity describes it as feeding both bodies and souls in the midst of struggles that the surrounding city knows well.
Children, Youth, and Family
Children's ministry is run by the Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry, Angela Arpino. A staffed Nursery for infants through age four is open on Sunday mornings. Two double-wide pews in the nave with a rocking chair and books are reserved for parents who want to stay close to the service with a young child.
Pre-K through third graders take part in Children's Chapel Jr. during the 10:30 a.m. service, with age-appropriate Scripture and faith lessons, and gather at other times for service projects, nature walks, "Eat, Pray, Play" gatherings at a family home, beach excursions, the Blessing of the Animals at Brooksvale Park, and the Christmas Pageant.
Middle-schoolers take part in Children's Chapel Sr. and are invited into Spirit Quest, a community of eight- to eleven-year-olds who gather during Coffee Hour for service, prayer, and activities. Older preteens and teenagers join the Upper Room Youth Group for those twelve and older, which meets monthly with clergy to discuss scripture; teens also serve as acolytes, livestream operators, and leaders across parish life.
Confirmation preparation takes the form of four sessions built around the Way of Love, the summary of Christian belief and practice put forward by the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop the Rev. Michael Curry. Confirmation is celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
Adult Formation and Small Groups
A Meditation Group meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:30 a.m. on Zoom, exploring various traditions of Christian meditation. A Women's Bible Study & Beyond meets on Thursdays at 4 p.m. on Zoom and reads and discusses books on a wide range of spiritual topics. A Men's Bible Study meets on Fridays at 7 a.m. on Zoom.
Sunday-morning adult formation includes the recent series "The Mystics," which introduces figures from the Christian mystical tradition. There is also a long-running Trinity Book Group, founded in the early 1980s, which meets eight or more times a year to discuss a shared selection of fiction, nonfiction, biography, and more.
Spirituality Groups, Bible studies, and small faith communities are available, and newcomers are welcomed warmly.
Outreach and Justice
Trinity describes its outreach with a single sentence: "Our faith calls us to engage with the world, starting with our neighbors on the New Haven Green and expanding our care and concern out to others." Several programs do the work.
Laundry Love provides laundry vouchers for a free wash-and-dry load at a local laundromat, helping to make clean clothes and bedding more accessible to people in the community.
Friends of the Green is a volunteer group that walks the New Haven Green to pick up trash and tend the public open space at the center of the city.
Community Grants steward Trinity's financial support to human-service programs with a focus on health, hunger, shelter, and education.
Creation Care is a year-round commitment that takes shape during the Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4). Trinity has completed an energy audit on its own building, parishioners participate in food-waste reduction through local composting and volunteering with Haven's Harvest, and the parish is connected to the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN) and the Care Ministry Network of ECCT.
The St. Luke's and Trinity Reconciliation Project brings Trinity together with St. Luke's Episcopal Church in regular gatherings that acknowledge their shared history and promote racial justice and healing.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is described at Trinity as a two-way ministry in which everyone is both a giver and a receiver. A wide range of options is available. Prayer requests are included by name in the weekly service bulletin and eNews (sent by Wednesday for the following week). Hospital visits are arranged through the parish office. A Prayer Shawl Ministry knits shawls in prayer, which are then blessed by clergy. A Healing Ministry prays for healing in person and from afar. A Food Ministry organizes homemade meals to be dropped at the door of parishioners during difficult times. A Postcard Ministry reaches out to people who are isolated. The Trinity Bed Fund helps cover the cost of inpatient treatment at Yale New Haven Hospital for parishioners in need.
All of these ministries can be reached through connect@trinitynewhaven.org or the parish office at (203) 624-3101.
The Arts
Trinity runs an active arts program that uses the church's architecture and acoustics as a gift to the wider city. The Trinity Players produces sermon dramas and standalone plays. Poetry Sunday is an annual event. The African American Read-In is celebrated as part of a national movement. Art Exhibits fill the Undercroft and other spaces, and visiting ensembles, including the all-women's vocal ensemble Lyyra from the VOCES8 Foundation, have given special concerts in the sanctuary. The annual Christmas Market, held the weekend before Thanksgiving, is the parish's largest fundraiser and community event of the year, bringing together knitters, crafters, and bakers from across the parish and supporting outreach ministries.
Welcoming All
Trinity states its welcome in plain terms: "God loves you. All are welcome here." The parish affirms that God's love extends to all people and welcomes people whatever their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, health status, physical ability, marital status, or spiritual or religious background. Trinity is certified by gaychurch.org as an open and affirming church.
Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Faith are all part of the parish's life. Baptisms are scheduled at five points each year: the Baptism of the Lord (second Sunday of January), the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, the second Sunday of August, and All Saints (first Sunday of November). Confirmation is celebrated at the Easter Vigil each year.
Weddings are scheduled throughout the year except during Holy Week, the week after Easter, the week before Christmas, and on holidays, with premarital counseling for all couples. The parish also celebrates funerals, memorial services, graveside services, and columbarium services.
Getting to Trinity
The church sits at the corner of Church and Temple Streets on the New Haven Green, facing Yale's oldest campus. Free street parking is available on Sundays, and the parish arranges free parking at Yale Lot 51 off Temple Street, a block and a half from the church. Elderly and handicapped parishioners can park on the apron in front of the church (limited).
Sunday services, Thursday Evensong, and a wide range of musical offerings are available to watch and listen to on Trinity's YouTube channel. Giving, directory, and pledge management are handled through the parish's Realm portal at onrealm.org/TrinityOnGreen/Give. A weekly eNews keeps parishioners and friends informed of upcoming events.
Staff and Lay Leadership
The parish is served by the Rev. Dr. Luk De Volder as Rector and the Rev. Heidi Thorsen as Associate Rector. Angela Arpino is the Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry; Simon Lee is the Director of Music and Sarah Johnson is Associate Director of Music; Kyle Pedersen is Deacon for Urban Ministry; and Clarke Mortensen is Interim Coordinator of Chapel on the Green.
Staff associates include the Rev. Dr. Peter W. Sipple and the Rev. Ally Brundige as Priest Associates; the Rev. Dr. Charles Lemert as Pastoral Associate for the Homeless; and the Rev. Robert Sandine as Minister of Drama. Gavin Klein serves as Organ Scholar, and two seminarians, Gabe Colombo and Steph McNally, are also part of the team.
The Vestry is led by Wardens Mary Ellen Savage and Peter Jongbloed, with David Soper as Treasurer and Susan Alsamarai as Clerk. Trinity is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, and within that wider body it partners with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's Care Ministry Network on stewardship of creation.
Living Stones
From the bus stop to the choir stalls, Trinity is a parish whose life has long reached beyond its own walls. Its stained glass, its Aeolian-Skinner organ, its Choir of Men and Boys, and the Sunday afternoon outdoor service on the Green together make Trinity on the Green what it is today: a place where the Anglican choral tradition and the life of a busy American city meet and grow together.