Trinity Church has stood on Piney Branch Road NW in the Takoma Park neighborhood of Washington, DC for more than a century. What began as prayer gatherings in a missionary's parlor in 1887 grew into one of the area's most distinctive Episcopal parishes, a Christ-centered, predominantly African American congregation known for five rotating Sunday worship experiences that the parish calls Afro-Anglicanism, for deep outreach to neighbors experiencing homelessness, and for a partnership with Takoma Elementary School that has run for years.
A Story That Begins in Neighbors' Parlors
Trinity's story begins in 1887, when the Reverend James C. Dorsey, a former Episcopal missionary to the Dakota Territory Indians, moved his family to Takoma Park and invited neighbors to his home for the community's first Episcopal service. As attendance grew, services moved to other homes, then to Birch Hall near the old Takoma Park railroad station, and later to nearby Union Chapel under the care of the Reverend Robert Claiborne.
Through the generosity of Mrs. L. S. Thornton, land was acquired at the present site, and a church called Takoma Parish was erected, with opening services on November 26, 1893. The altar cross, alms basin, chalice, paten, and ciborium for that first church were salvaged from a demolished church in northwest Washington. In 1895, the District of Columbia and several adjacent Maryland counties were separated from the Diocese of Maryland to form the Diocese of Washington, and the following year the Takoma Park area was given independent status. The Reverend George H. Johnson accepted the call as Trinity's first rector. The 1941 diocesan convention changed the name from Takoma Parish to Trinity Parish.
A new chapter opened in 1936, when a building campaign launched work on the present church. Ground was broken on June 14, 1936, and the new building opened for services on March 7, 1937. A first Joash Service on March 13 began to retire the $16,000 construction debt, a practice continued until the debt was paid off in 1943. The remaining $500 went to purchase a war bond for the Parish Hall Building Fund. The rectory was occupied in March 1941, and Joash Sunday was revived in 1949 to enlarge the Parish Hall, completed in September 1950. The 1960s brought significant demographic change to the surrounding neighborhoods, and Trinity's congregation gradually shifted from predominantly white to its current predominantly African American character.
Five Sundays of Afro-Anglican Worship
Worship is described at Trinity as the heart and soul of parish life, and what makes it distinctive is what the parish calls Afro-Anglicanism: five different Sunday worship experiences that rotate through the month to serve a diverse community.
The Trinitas Experience, held on the first Sunday of the month, draws on the ancient fabric of the Anglican and Episcopal tradition. Classic hymns and anthems shape a solemn liturgical setting.
The Contemporary Experience, on the second Sunday, makes use of modern liturgical resources. Music leans toward gospel, praise, and worship, inviting freer congregational participation.
The Jubilee Experience, on the third Sunday, explores the historic music of the African American tradition and the African Diaspora through call and response, spirituals, and classical works by composers of African descent.
The Family and Friend Experience, on the fourth Sunday, is built for the whole household. Children and youth join the music, anthems, and spiritual songs, and the service weaves together the layers of family life.
On months with a fifth Sunday, the Jazz and Gospel Experience takes over, setting jazz rhythms, riffs on traditional and contemporary hymns, and the melodies of familiar tunes inside the framework of an Episcopal service. The music is described as moving fingers to slapping and toes to tapping.
Sunday Mornings at Trinity
Two Sunday services anchor the rhythm of the week. At 8:00 am, a Said Eucharist is offered in person, and at 10:30 am a Choral Eucharist is held both in person and online via YouTube. A printed bulletin guides worshipers through the liturgy, and the clergy invite people to use the time before the service to pray and invite the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Worshipers who wish to make the sign of the cross may do so at traditional moments noted in the bulletin; making the sign is described as a matter of personal spiritual preference, not a measure of being a better Christian. Communion is open to all who seek God and a deeper relationship with Christ. To receive, one comes to the altar at the direction of the ushers, opens the palm to receive the bread, eats the bread, and then drinks from the cup when offered. Communion kits are also available; intinction is not being offered. Those who prefer a blessing may come to the altar with arms crossed over the chest. Anyone wanting prayers for healing can let a member of the clergy know or come to the altar after the service.
Christian Education for children from kindergarten through high school runs from 9:30 am to 10:15 am. The Adult Forum and Bible Study gather at the same hour in the Parish Hall, with clergy, lay leaders, seminarians, and guest presenters leading discussions on Christian ethics, spirituality, theology, church history, Bible study, current affairs, and personal finances.
Growing Up at Trinity
Children's ministry at Trinity introduces young hearts to the love of God through teaching and fellowship. Using curriculum appropriate for ages three through fifth grade, the Sunday School helps children become familiar with Bible stories, Episcopal worship, and the Christian response to the world around them. Childcare is available from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm each Sunday and afterward as needed, and teachers, aides, and administrators are always needed.
For youth ages 11 to 17, the Journey to Adulthood, or J2A, meets Sundays from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. The program offers intentional, systematic, classroom-centered interactions between teachers and young learners, with resources drawn from the wider Episcopal curriculum. The Spack House supports Christian education and formation for children in Sunday School.
Adults gather in many circles. The Adult Forum meets weekly at 9:30 am in the Parish Hall. Men of Trinity hosts fellowship and service activities and is known for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, the Christian Seder Supper, and trips to Nats Park. The Daughters of the King, an international prayer, evangelism, and service ministry of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, lead the prayer circle at the baptismal font on Sundays, organize presenters for the meditations at the Stations of the Cross, and provide leadership and refreshment for the Holy Innocents' Day service. The Trinity Episcopal Church Women brings together all parish women for fellowship, outreach, and education, while a separate Women's Ministry offers retreats and other programs for spiritual development and fellowship. Two fellowship groups, the 20/30 Sojourners and the 40/50 Sojourners, gather peers in their twenties and thirties or forties and fifties for mutual support. A Health Ministry offers workshops and information on mental and physical wellness throughout the year.
Music as a Living Part of Worship
Music has shaped Trinity's worship experience for generations. The Chancel Choir leads the congregation in hymns, songs, the Psalter, and the anthem at the offertory. The Children's Choir historically sang on the fourth Sunday of every month, and the parish looks forward to reviving it: rehearsals are planned after Communion at the 10:30 am service and before worship on fourth Sundays. The Youth Ensemble is a music and performing arts group that sings and performs at worship, congregation, and community events. Rehearsals for the Trinity Children and Youth Chorus are held weekly at 12 pm after the 10:30 am Sunday service, and all children are welcome.
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
Trinity celebrates the sacraments as a central part of its life. Baptismal instruction sessions are scheduled at least two weeks before a baptism, and the Church Office coordinates them with a member of the clergy. Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception classes are offered during the year for children and adults who wish to confirm or reaffirm their baptismal covenant, with an adult series open to anyone seeking a refresher on the Christian faith. Holy Matrimony preparation begins with the clergy and the church office.
The pastoral reach of the parish extends beyond the building. The Lay Eucharistic Visitors are trained parishioners who take Holy Communion to members who are sick or shut in. The St. Luke's Guild visits the homebound each Sunday throughout the year, except during Advent and Lent, distributing sanctuary flowers and bulletins. Prayers for healing can be requested during the service by informing the clergy, and the Daughters of the King lead prayer at the baptismal font each Sunday.
Reaching Out: Trinity's Work Beyond Its Walls
Trinity's commitment to serving the wider community is woven into the parish's identity. The parish's outreach work flows from a conviction that faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead, quoting James 2:14-17.
The Bed and Breakfast to Go ministry gathers parishioners of all ages, including youth and children, to cook and package hot breakfasts and donate sleeping bags. These meals and bags are delivered to people experiencing homelessness who are living on the streets. Care Knapsacks filled with socks, hand towels, washcloths, toothpaste and toothbrushes, personal care items, bottled water, and non-perishable food are assembled and given to people encountered on the streets throughout the city. Each Christmas, Trinity hosts an Annual Christmas Party and Dinner for people experiencing homelessness, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, with musical entertainment, poetry reading, small gifts, and a full course meal. The Angel Tree ministry matches parishioners with children from social service agencies so gifts from their Christmas wish lists can be given anonymously.
The parish also takes in the working poor through Transition and Temporary Housing. Trinity provides housing to about four people for up to three months at a time, in rooms with shared bath and kitchen, and it continues to provide clothing, counseling, food, funds, and housing across the District of Columbia. A Foster Care Ministry, supported by a Congregational Grant from the Diocese of Washington, walks alongside youth aging out of foster care with mentorship, support, and, in some cases, transitional housing.
Outside the parish grounds, R.I.S.E. (Rooted In Spirit and Engaged) and Neighbors in Flight partner Trinity with Takoma Elementary School. Guided by the school's slogan, Together We Lift Every Falcon, the program provides winter coats, year-round school supplies, and financial contributions to address urgent needs, while Trinity also offers pastoral and counseling support through the Imago Counseling Center and Reverend Shayna Watson.
The parish also runs an after-school tutorial program, a Vacation Bible School, a Summer Enrichment Program, and the Trinity Education Arts Music Ministry (TEAMM), a comprehensive ministry to children. The Annual Preaching Mission and Revival and the Trinity Development Corporation carry this work further. The Trinity Volunteer Corps, Men of Trinity, the Men's Chorus, the Advent Circle, and House Church are additional ways members live out the call to service.
What Trinity Believes
Trinity is a parish of the Episcopal Church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion with 70 million members in 165 countries. The word Episcopal refers to government by bishops, and the historic episcopate continues the work of the first apostles in guarding the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church. Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests, and bishops.
As members of the Episcopal Church, parishioners follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; that God redeems through the life and work of Jesus Christ; and that God is active in their lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ, and the Church pursues that mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.
Worship upholds the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. The Holy Scriptures are received as the revealed Word of God, and the Celebration of Holy Eucharist is the central act of worship, in keeping with Jesus' command to His disciples. Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church.
Leadership
Trinity's leadership combines ordained clergy, wardens, vestry members, and parish officers. The Reverend Shayna J. Watson serves as Rector and Pastor. She joined Trinity from St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA, where she was Associate Rector, and previously served as Canon Pastor at St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 with majors in Political Science and African Diasporic Studies, holds a Master of Divinity with honors from Lancaster Theological Seminary, and earned an Anglican Studies Diploma from Virginia Theological Seminary. She was ordained a deacon in 2018 and a priest in 2019 and is a board-certified chaplain with hospital and hospice experience. She is the creator of ΘeoCon: Where Theology Meets Pop Culture!, a convention that offers space to explore moral and spiritual arcs in the arts.
The Reverend Alethea Long-Green serves as Deacon, ordained into the Diocese of Washington's Ministry of the Diaconate in November 2022. After a 30-year career in public and private industry, she came to the diaconate as a second career and the fulfillment of a lifetime calling. She is a Congregational Coach with the Tending Our Soil Growth Initiative at EDOW and completed a parish internship at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Upper Marlboro, MD, and a social service internship at the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens in Washington, DC.
The Reverend Dr. Shawn Strout serves as Assisting Clergy. He is Assistant Professor of Worship, Associate Dean of Chapel, and Director of Assessment, and has served as a parish priest for over eleven years. He is also Associate Priest at Trinity Parish. Dr. Strout published Of Thine Own Have We Given Thee: A Liturgical Theology of the Offertory in Anglicanism with Pickwick Publications in 2023 and is completing Shepherding Souls: A Handbook for the Pastoral Offices with Church Publishing. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from The Catholic University of America, an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary, and graduate degrees in professional counseling and human resources development.
Kelvin Page serves as Music Director. The vestry is led by Senior Warden Adolphus Ukaegbu and Junior Warden Gleeson Young, with members from the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Officers include Treasurer Paula Smith, Assistant Treasurers Cora O. Dixon and Caroline Edwards, and Clerk Joan Taylor Brown. The vestry has the legal and moral responsibility for managing the parish's resources, programs, and mission.
Visiting Trinity Church
Trinity is at 7005 Piney Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20012, a five-minute walk from the Metrorail Takoma Park station on the red line. From the station, turn right onto Cedar Street NW, walk one block past Blair Road, turn right onto 5th Street NW, turn left onto Dahlia Street NW, and the church will be on the left. Street parking is generally available and easy.
For Sunday services, the 8:00 am Said Eucharist is in person only, and the 10:30 am Choral Eucharist is offered in person and online via YouTube. Childcare is available from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and afterward as needed. A Wednesday Bible Study meets at 7 pm via Zoom. Weekday Morning Prayer is offered online at 9:00 am on a recurring schedule. Giving is available online. The church can be rented for weddings, funerals, baptisms, graduations, and other celebrations. The parish's doors are open to all who wish to visit or make Trinity their spiritual home.