A House of Prayer for All People
On the corner of Broadway and Berry in downtown Fort Wayne sits an old stone church that has been a house of prayer for more than 175 years. Trinity Episcopal Church's front door carries a simple promise: "God loves you. No exceptions." The parish lives by the motto "Love God. Love your neighbor. Change the world," and welcomes every person who walks through its doors, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, or physical ability.
Trinity sits within the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana and follows the Book of Common Prayer in its worship. Some members are lifelong Episcopalians; many are newcomers to the Anglican tradition. Worshipers describe themselves as followers of Jesus seeking lives transformed by God's love, supporting one another through regular participation in worship, study, and service.
Sundays at Trinity
Three Sunday liturgies anchor the week. At 8:00 a.m., the congregation gathers in the nave for Holy Eucharist, Rite I, a quieter service that uses the traditional language of the prayer book. At 10:15 a.m., the principal Sunday service takes place as Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with the Adult Choir leading hymns, psalms, and anthems drawn from the Anglican choral tradition. At 5:00 p.m., a contemplative Taizé Mass is held in the chapel, with sung prayer and silence shaping the liturgy.
Sunday School runs during the morning hours. Children ages 6.5 to 10 meet at 9:00 a.m. for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and children ages 1.5 to 6 gather during the 10:15 a.m. service. The Adult Choir warms up 45 minutes before the late Mass and sings from September through May; a relaxed Summer Choir, which rehearses only on Sunday mornings, fills the loft during the summer months.
Nursery care is available from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Activity bags for young worshipers are kept in the Common Room just outside the nave, and restrooms are located in the Common Room and down the hall past the nursery. Most services last about 60 to 75 minutes. There is no dress code, and newcomers are gently reminded: "You don't need to know what to do. Simply follow along, listen, and participate as you feel comfortable."
What to Expect in Episcopal Worship
Trinity describes its worship as traditional, reverent, and deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition. Liturgies follow the classic forms of the Book of Common Prayer, with scripture readings, prayers, and responses shared between clergy and congregation. The order of service is printed in a bulletin that guides worshipers step by step.
Music holds a central place. The Adult Choir, a dedicated ensemble of volunteer and professional voices, leads the congregation in hymns and psalms and offers anthems ranging from Renaissance composers to present-day works. Most congregational hymns come from The Hymnal 1982. The service weaves together silence, joyful song, and shared prayer.
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Those who prefer not to receive may come forward for a blessing, and ushers will arrange for Communion to be brought to anyone for whom navigating steps is difficult.
Music for Every Age
Music ministry at Trinity reaches across generations. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. during the program year. Children in kindergarten through middle school can join the Children's Choir and Handbells ensemble, which rehearses on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. A summer Choir Camp for ages 5 through middle school brings together music games, singing, movement, and crafts. Peter Morey serves as Director of Music and Janet Piercy as Choral Associate.
Christian Formation for Children, Youth, and Adults
Christian formation is built around the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-style approach that meets children where they are. The Good Shepherd Atrium serves Pre-K and Kindergarten on the second floor, the Little Lambs Atrium serves children 18 months to 3 years on the first floor, and the True Vine Atrium serves Grades 1 through 5 on the third floor. A Teen Sunday School class gathers alongside the youngest catechists, and Next Chapter, a separate space for Grades 5 through 12, hosts monthly gatherings. On the first Sunday of each month, Sunday Night Youth brings Grades 5 through 12 together in the evening.
Adult formation includes an ongoing Bible Study, a Confirmation Class, the Journeying Together small-group community, and seasonal programs through Advent and Lent. Recent Lenten book studies have included Wild Bright Hope and Passions of the Soul, and a Vacation Brew and Bible School fills part of the summer. The Young Adults group meets regularly, and the Daughters of the King provide a prayerful fellowship for women.
A Building with a Long Memory
Trinity's stone building is itself part of the parish's witness. The nave holds stained glass windows that the Property Commission is preparing to remove, re-lead, and re-install through a Sacred Places Indiana grant funded by the Lilly Endowment. Other planned projects include reworking the concrete and steel piers in the nave undercroft, tuck-pointing and re-hanging exterior stone, and replacing the fire alarm system. A separate grant is being pursued for windows on the south side of the building. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open all day for private meditation, and Christ the King Chapel hosts the Taizé Mass and feast-day liturgies.
The Altar Guild, a team of 26 active members, prepares the church for every Eucharist, wedding, baptism, and funeral. In a recent year the Guild served 136 Sunday and 62 weekday Eucharistic services, along with funerals and seasonal celebrations. Junior and Senior members of the Guild include high school students learning to set up and clean up for worship.
Reaching into the Community
The Outreach and Mission Commission partners with a wide circle of organizations across northeast Indiana and beyond. Locally, Trinity supports Associated Churches' Rising Stars program alongside Bloomingdale and Price elementary schools, providing school supplies, meals, clothing, and staff encouragement. For more than ten years, Team Trinity Women Build has fielded crews for Habitat for Humanity in Fort Wayne's Hannah Creighton neighborhood. The parish prepares holiday gift bags for 27 homebound neighbors each December, supports Just Neighbors with rental and utility assistance, and serves meals to shelter residents three times a year.
Trinity volunteers staff the Wellspring Interfaith Clothing Shoppe and provide holiday meals for 52 families and Christmas gifts through the Angel Tree for 42 children. Sales of Singing Rooster Haitian coffee on Sunday mornings support St. Vincent's Center for Disabled Children in Haiti, providing education, medical care, and meals for 200 children, with all coffee profits returned to Haitian small farmers and reforestation. The parish also has a long relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana's companion work.
Inside its own walls, Trinity operates an on-site food pantry in the parking lot, distributes Community Harvest Food Bank vouchers, and provides Citilink bus passes for neighbors in need of transportation. A laundry ministry extends the same practical care closer to home.
Trinity Episcopal Pride and Welcome
Inspired by years of presence at Fort Wayne Pride, Trinity Episcopal Pride is the parish's LGBTQIA+ ministry. The group gathers people seeking beautiful traditional worship, a supportive community on their Christian journey, and a commitment to social justice. Members affirm that there is a place for everyone at God's table, especially LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ, and the parish takes part in Fort Wayne Pride, Whitley County Prism Fest, and local LGBTQ+ fundraisers.
Pastoral Care and Prayerful Support
The Pastoral Care Commission is made up of parishioners licensed by the bishop to serve as Lay Eucharistic Visitors. They take the consecrated sacrament to those unable to be present at Sunday worship, visit the sick and homebound, and offer prayer and companionship. Full training is provided for anyone who wishes to join the ministry.
Leadership and Governance
The Rev'd Patrick A. Collins serves as Interim Rector and The Rev'd Karla Smith as Curate. They are joined by Peter Morey (Director of Music), Elliot Harrod (Lay Preacher and Director of Christian Formation), Joshua Gale (Assistant for Preaching), David Johnson (Lay Preacher), Janet Piercy (Choral Associate), and The Rev'd Canon Gordon Samra (Deacon Emeritus). The parish is governed by a Vestry elected by the congregation, with David Wright serving as Senior Warden, Denise Stacy as Junior Warden, Amber Bauer as Treasurer, and Brice Vinson-Schisler as Clerk. Parishioners also serve on commissions for Finance, Investment, Property, Stewardship, and more.
Joining in From Anywhere
The 10:15 a.m. Sunday Mass, Evensongs, and Christmas and Holy Week services are livestreamed on Trinity's Facebook page and uploaded to YouTube afterward. Bulletins for both Sunday services and the weekly announcements are published online, and giving is available through the parish's online giving portal. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at 260-423-1693 or secretary@trinityfw.org.
Trinity invites anyone who walks through its doors - or joins online - to belong exactly as they are.