Project represents first major renovation of the church in over 70 years; Select renderings & photos available here; video available here and here.

Serving as an iconic member and moral religious leader of the downtown community for over 300 years, Trinity Church is embarking on a nearly two-year, $98.6 million rejuvenation process to properly steward this historic landmark and serve the growing needs of a revived residential neighborhood in downtown Manhattan, Trinity leadership announced today.

The rejuvenation process will allow the beloved church to make spaces accessible and welcoming, build capacity by 140 seats, upgrade technology and infrastructure, improve its environmental efficiency, address deferred maintenance issues, and enhance the overall worship experience.

“Rejuvenating Trinity Church is part of our mission to provide a spiritual home for lower Manhattan – our parishioners, neighbors, workers, and visitors,” said the Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, Rector. “As a vibrant, diverse, and growing congregation, we are excited to undertake this work so that future generations also can cherish this remarkable church.”

The rejuvenation will return parts of the church to Richard Upjohn’s original 1846 plan; the chancel will be restored to its original size, increasing capacity by 140 seats.  Interior walls and ceilings will be painted to reflect Upjohn’s original stone design.

Other project highlights include:

• The stained-glass windows will be fully repaired and restored; the clerestory windows, which are not original, will be redesigned to complement the church interior. New stained-glass windows will be designed and installed in the east exterior facade of the church, facing Wall Street, and will be lit from the interior for the enjoyment of the downtown community;
• New organs will be installed in Trinity Church and the Chapel of All Saints;
• Ramps will be added to the North and South entrances of Trinity Church. The East plaza will be modified , and steps will be removed in the Chapel of All Saints chancel, making the entire church building ADA accessible;
• The altar will be separated from the reredos and made movable to accommodate diverse events;
• Flooring will be made consistent throughout the church;
• The existing pews will be redesigned and refurbished for enhanced accessibility and comfort;
• A new lighting and sound system will be installed inside the church; exterior lighting will also be upgraded;
• Gender-neutral restrooms will be installed for the congregation and visitors;
• The choir room will be renovated with acoustic panels and other enhancements to upgrade the quality of practice and performance for the iconic Choir of Trinity Wall Street;
• An unobtrusive glass and steel canopy will be added along the outside of the South side of Trinity Church to provide protection for the processional during inclement weather;
• The church will create more public space by relocating the Sacristy; a new multifunctional meeting area will be built.

During the rejuvenation, many church services and events will be moved to St. Paul’s Chapel just up the street.  This will not be the first time that Trinity Church has used St. Paul’s as a second home– it has relocated twice, first after the Great Fire of 1776, and again in 1839 for the construction of the current church.  The last major renovation took place in 1945.

The project will begin with the closure of the nave, or main body of the church, on Monday, May 7, though the Chapel of All Saints as well as the churchyard will remain open for visitors and parishioners through the entire process.

The rejuvenation is expected to be substantially complete in the Spring of 2020 or sooner, allowing the nave to reopen. Work will continue on the Chapel of All Saints and the organ installations.

Worship will continue in Trinity Church’s Chapel of All Saints during the week with Morning Prayer (8:15 and 9:00 AM), 12:05 PM weekday service and Evening Prayer/Evensong (5:15 PM) and on Sundays with Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM. On Sundays, St. Paul’s Chapel will continue to host the 8:00 AM service, the 9:15 AM family service, and 8:00 PM Compline; beginning Sunday, May 13, St. Paul’s also will be home to the 11:15 AM service, featuring The Choir of Trinity Wall Street.

For more information, please visit www.trinitywallstreet.org/rejuvenation.

For Video of Trinity Church Vicar, Reverend Phil Jackson explaining the project, please click here and here.  For renderings and photos, please click here.

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ABOUT TRINITY CHURCH WALL STREET

Trinity Church Wall Street is a growing and inclusive Episcopal parish that seeks to serve and heal the world by building neighborhoods that live Gospel truths, generations of faithful leaders, and sustainable communities. The parish is guided by its core values: faith, integrity, inclusiveness, compassion, social justice, and stewardship. Members come from the five boroughs of New York City and surrounding areas to form a racially, ethnically, and economically diverse congregation. More than 20 worship services are offered every week at its historic sanctuaries, Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel, the cornerstones of the parishes community life, worship, and mission, and online at trinitywallstreet.org. The parish welcomes approximately 2.5 million visitors per year.