Trinity Episcopal Church in Wheaton
On the corner of North West and Wesley streets in downtown Wheaton, Trinity Episcopal Church has been a steady presence in DuPage County since 1875. The parish traces its roots to three families, the Drummonds, the Shearsons, and the Warracks, who consulted with Bishop William E. McLaren about establishing an Episcopal mission in the town. Six years later, the small congregation was ready to build. A lot at West and Wesley streets was purchased for $300, the cornerstone was laid by Bishop McLaren on December 18, 1881, and the building that is now Trinity's historic chapel was constructed through a difficult winter and spring for a total cost of $4,063.35. That wood-frame chapel is the oldest church building in Wheaton still in continuous use, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the year of Trinity's centennial.
Trinity's current ministry stretches across the parish campus and into the wider community. Four Eucharists are offered every week. A lively music program supports Sunday worship. Children and adults explore Christian formation at every age. Outreach efforts feed neighbors through the Northern Illinois Food Bank, clothe and gift families at Christmas, prepare meals for people staying at DuPage PADS interim housing, and host recovery meetings in the parish buildings. Trinity describes itself as "more than a building or a club" and treats that claim as a working mission: to love God, love others, and join God in changing the world.
A Week of Worship
Worship is at the center of parish life at Trinity, and the rhythm of the week offers four chances to gather. A said Holy Eucharist is held in the historic chapel on Wednesdays at 10:00 am, on Saturdays at 5:00 pm, and on Sundays at 8:00 am. The main Sunday service, the 10:00 am Holy Eucharist in the larger 1958 church, includes musical offerings from the adult choir and is livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page. (A Facebook account is not required to watch.) Communion is offered from a common cup or by intinction, with gluten-free options available; all are welcome at the table, and no one is expected to receive.
Hearing assistance devices are available at the 10:00 am service. Anyone who would like to use one is invited to ask an usher when arriving. Trinity is centrally located in Historic Downtown Wheaton, a few blocks west of the train station. A small parking lot is accessible from Wesley Street, and there is plenty of street parking in the surrounding blocks.
The 10:00 am service is especially friendly to families. A "soft space" for children is set up at the front of the church, and activity bags hang on the coat trees just outside the entrance. Children are welcome at every service. Ushers hand out bulletins, take up the collection, assist during communion, and keep a careful eye on the needs of those gathered for worship.
Worship Leadership and Ministries
Worship at Trinity is a shared ministry between clergy and laity. The rector, the Rev. Kevin Caruso, works alongside priest associates the Rev. Robin Currie and the Rev. David Fisher, and three deacons: the Rev. Deacon Jim Lanning, the Rev. Deacon Brenda Lotesta, and the Rev. Deacon Jayachitra Lalitha.
Acolytes assist at the altar, lead processions, and light and extinguish the candles. Lectors proclaim the scripture and lead the Prayers of the People. Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist with distributing communion. The Altar Guild prepares vessels, linens, and vestments for each service, and coordinates altar flowers. Members of the guild describe the work as a kind of meditation, with weekly Saturday morning gatherings that double as a way to pass the tradition on to younger members of the parish.
Trinity also has a place for musical offerings and instruments at worship. The Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:30 pm and leads the congregation in song during the 10:00 am Sunday service. A Bell Choir provides music at selected services and rehearses weekly at 11:30 am; the group will teach anyone who wants to join. Instrumentalists are invited to share their gifts as well. Robert Ward serves as Organist and Music Director.
The Campus: Chapel, Church, Labyrinth, Columbarium
Trinity's campus tells the story of a parish that has grown without losing its historic heart. The 1881 chapel anchors the corner. A Guild House for meetings was added in 1893. In the 1920s a more ambitious plan envisioned a new church and chapel connected by a cloister, with a parish hall that included a small stage, space for sports, and even a swimming pool beneath the church. Only the parish hall and bell tower were built, completed in the spring of 1925. By the mid-1950s the parish needed more room again. A 1956 study recommended tearing down the chapel because of costly repairs, but the parish instead rallied to repair it, and additional repairs followed over the next fifty years. The larger main church was completed in 1958.
Property updates continued in 1996. The grounds include a columbarium, a sacred area designated for the installation of cinerary urns, and a meditation labyrinth. The gardens were designed in large part by the late Rev. Deacon Robert Taylor, with additional work by his son, Brad Taylor. A 150th anniversary stained glass window was installed in the chapel and was celebrated with a special Sunday afternoon program in the spring of 2026 that included chapel tours, a reception in Millett Hall, and a vocal performance by Anima, the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus.
The labyrinth in the courtyard and a bench in the garden are always available for walking prayer. The chapel can be opened for individuals seeking a quiet place to pray, by request.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Trinity's vision is a one-sentence summary of the parish's calling: "Love God, Love others and Join God in changing the world." Its mission is the work that vision calls for: "We are a community who seeks, serves, and celebrates God in everyone."
Five values shape how the parish lives that out. Diversity and inclusion mean that everyone is valued. Boldness and courage ask members to trust in God and to be willing to take a risk. Love and service are about loving with an open heart and seeing Christ in one another. Hope and compassion describe the parish as a beacon helping others believe in the possibility of living God's dreams for them. Faith and trust bind the community to God and to one another.
Trinity is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and the larger Episcopal Church, and is explicit about welcoming Episcopalians, people from other faith traditions, and those new to spirituality.
Christian Formation for All Ages
Christian formation at Trinity is treated as a lifelong journey. Children and families are led by Gay Webb, the Director of Children and Family Faith Formation.
Sunday School meets at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings, except on the last Sunday of the month, and is split into three age groups: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten meet in Room 6, elementary-age children in Room 7, and middle schoolers in Room 8. Each week begins with age-appropriate activities and then moves into a whole-group lesson with breakout sessions. There is also a Parent Coffee Connection in Room 8 from 9:30 to 10:00 am, where parents can meet one another over coffee while the children are in class. The Children's Christian Formation Commission oversees Sunday School as well as parish traditions like Santa's Visit and Easter activities.
For adults, a Saturday Morning Bible Study gathers by Zoom to consider longer-form topics, usually twelve or twenty-four sessions in length. Deacon Jim Lanning leads the group. The parish also offers preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Reaffirmation of Faith. Confirmation and Reaffirmation are mature declarations of faith made by a bishop.
MomCo at Trinity is a new mothers' ministry hosted in the parish buildings. Meetings are held on Fridays, generally the first and third Friday of each month from October through May, from 9:40 to 11:30 am, with the first gathering of the season in early September. Childcare is provided during every meeting, so mothers can relax and connect. Lexi Schuhriemen coordinates MomCo at Trinity.
Music Ministries
Music is woven into worship in two main ways at Trinity. The Adult Choir leads the congregation in song during the 10:00 am Sunday service and rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. The Bell Choir adds musical offerings at selected services and rehearses weekly at 11:30 am; the group welcomes new ringers and teaches the skills needed to join. Instrumentalists are encouraged to share their talents as well.
Robert Ward, the Organist and Music Director, oversees both ensembles. Anyone interested in joining either choir, or in offering instrumental music, can contact Robert through the parish office.
Outreach Across DuPage County
Outreach at Trinity is shaped by the conviction that loving God and loving others goes hand in hand, and by an intentional decision to step outside the parish walls.
Northern Illinois Food Bank. A regular team of ten to twelve Trinity volunteers sorts and packs food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank warehouse in Geneva. Sessions are held on weekday afternoons about once a month and on Saturday mornings about once a quarter, ranging from two and a half to three hours; sitting jobs are available for those who need them. Each session ends with a casual social lunch at a local restaurant. NIFB is part of the Feeding America network and serves thirteen counties in Northern Illinois. Deacon Brenda Lotesta and Ruth Anne Willcox help lead Trinity's effort.
DuPage PADS. Once a month, a Trinity team delivers meals to residents at the PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) interim housing site in Downers Grove. DuPage PADS has spent thirty-five years feeding and sheltering individuals and families experiencing homelessness and connecting them to case management and other services that address the underlying causes of homelessness.
People's Resource Center. Each summer Trinity hosts an annual back-to-school supply drive for PRC, which distributes backpacks filled with school supplies to DuPage County students. Parishioners contribute directly through wish lists at Walmart, Target, and Amazon, and donations are delivered to PRC.
Christmas Sharing. Founded in 1969, Christmas Sharing of Wheaton Warrenville is a coalition of churches that provides food, gift cards, coats, toys, and non-food items to families in need during the Christmas season, serving families in the Wheaton Warrenville Community Unit School District 200 area without regard to religious affiliation. Trinity serves as a distribution center for one Saturday in December each year. Parishioners prepare the parish as a festive site the day before, then help parents "shop" for their children and children shop for their parents on the day of the event. Wrapping, childcare, parking, delivery, and Spanish-speaking volunteers are all part of the work. A Giving Tree in the parish helps fund the effort.
ESSE Adult Day Services. Trinity is one of the community organizations that supports ESSE, which provides adult day care that promotes the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of older adults and their families.
Affordable housing. Trinity is a member of DuPage United, a regional organization working on issues of affordable housing and traffic safety in DuPage County. Parishioners have joined events with affiliated organizations in Chicago and the Fox River Valley on related housing justice efforts.
Recovery ministries. Trinity opens its buildings to recovery support groups. Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Mondays at 12 pm and 8 pm, Tuesdays at 12 pm, Wednesdays at 12 pm, Thursdays at 12 pm and 5:45 pm (women only), Fridays at 12 pm and 8 pm, Saturdays at 9 am and 12 pm, and Sundays at 9 am. Al-Anon meets on Thursdays at 1 pm. Gamblers Anonymous meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.
Blood drives. Trinity partners with the American Red Cross to host blood drives three times each year in Millett Hall.
Pastoral Care and Prayer
Pastoral care at Trinity is shared between clergy and laity. Members of the congregation care for one another through prayer, presence, meals, and rides in times of need. Those interested in joining the pastoral care ministry can reach out to the team at pastoralcare@trinitywheaton.org. The clergy also bring communion to homebound parishioners.
The Prayer Shawl Group knits and crochets shawls to literally wrap people in prayer, whether they are grieving a loss, experiencing health problems, aging, in hardship, or marking a new birth. Smaller prayer squares are placed in pockets and purses around the parish as a reminder that we are connected to one another.
The Parish Prayer List is published in the Sunday bulletin. Prayers stay on the list for eight weeks, and four weeks for the faithfully departed; new requests can be made at any time.
Fellowship and Community Life
Fellowship at Trinity happens in worship, in service, and in ordinary time together. The Hospitality Committee hosts a coffee hour after the 10:00 am Sunday service, and the last Sunday of each month is Community Coffee Hour, when anyone is welcome to bring a dish to share. Parent Coffee Connection meets in Room 8 from 9:30 to 10:00 am before worship.
The parish calendar includes both seasonal traditions and regular gatherings. The Annual Steak Fry draws neighbors and friends for a cheese and munchies spread and a choice of strip steak, chicken, or a vegetarian entrée. The Fourth of July Celebration starts with outdoor worship on the front lawn at 9:00 am, followed by a lemonade stand and a parish picnic with hot dogs, sides, and desserts, plus selfie stations, a bounce house, and bean bag toss games. Trinity Sunday brings the parish together for a potluck after the 10:00 am service. The Annual Pet Blessing honors St. Francis of Assisi with a communal blessing, a pet photo booth, and roaming pet blessings for leashed or crated animals. Lenten and Holy Week traditions include a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, a Lenten Retreat, a Passion Gospel reading on Palm Sunday, a Maundy Thursday Soup Supper, services on Good Friday, an Easter Vigil reception, and Easter Sunday worship. Christmas Sharing is one of the parish's longest-running traditions. The parish also gathers at the Kane County Cougars baseball game each summer and participates in the Fight Hunger 10K, 5K, and Kids Mile to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Several smaller groups connect members through shared interests. The Holy Spokes Bike Group and the Trinity & St. Paul Book Club meet regularly. A new Documentary & Dinner Club began in the spring of 2026 with a potluck dinner and screening of The Girl Who Wore Freedom, a documentary by Trinity member Christian Taylor.
The Church Center app is the parish's central hub for the calendar, the parish directory, sign-ups for events and activities, registrations for programs and classes, and coordination of volunteer efforts. Members can log in through a smartphone app or a web browser using a passwordless email or text verification code.
Weddings, Rentals, and the Wider Community
Trinity opens its doors to neighbors for life events and community use. The Historic Chapel, built in 1881, seats up to 150 guests, is temperature-controlled, and has an organ available. The Main Church, completed in 1958, seats up to 300 guests and offers a pipe organ or piano, a wireless sound system, and temperature control. Stained glass windows fill the sanctuary with color. The main church is available for weddings and other large ceremonies; weekday rentals are flexible and arranged by request, Saturdays exclude the late afternoon window for parish worship, and Sundays are available after 12:30 pm. The chapel and church are not available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or during Holy Week.
The parish also donates space to recovery groups and to community partners. Anyone interested in booking an event can reach the rentals team at Rentals@trinitywheaton.org or by calling the parish office at 630-665-1101, extension 315.
Leadership and Governance
Trinity is led by the rector, the Rev. Kevin Caruso, alongside priest associates the Rev. Robin Currie and the Rev. David Fisher. Three deacons serve the parish: the Rev. Deacon Jim Lanning, the Rev. Deacon Brenda Lotesta, and the Rev. Deacon Jayachitra Lalitha. Robert Ward is the Organist and Music Director. Gay Webb directs Children and Family Faith Formation. Michelle Baun serves as Director of Communications and Parish Administrator, and Chris Ponstein is the bookkeeper.
The vestry is essentially Trinity's board of directors, elected by members of the parish at the annual meeting. Kathy Brown serves as Senior Warden, Julie Nelligan as Junior Warden, Naomi Pollard as Clerk of Vestry, and Erin Delgado as Treasurer. The vestry classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028 include Bernie Ishmael, Bob David, Larry Kuhn, Peter Bostock, Jeanne Hoffman, Dianne Trausch, Mark Thomas, Laurie Faryan, Robert Kral, Charles "Chip" Snowden, and Laura Roethler. Leslie Wilson, Alison Bettisworth, the rector, and the senior warden serve as Chapel Trustees, overseeing a trust set up to preserve and maintain the historic chapel. Allison Bettisworth, Nancy Lanning, and Jeanne Hoffman serve as Diocesan Delegates to the Diocese of Chicago's annual meeting.
Fr. Kevin can be reached at clergy@trinitywheaton.org. The parish office, open during the week, can be reached at office@trinitywheaton.org or 630-665-1101. The latest bulletins, parish notes, and an archive of recent announcements are available. Services are livestreamed on Facebook, online giving is available through the parish's secure giving portal, and the Church Center app ties together the calendar, directory, sign-ups, and prayer requests.