A Brief History of Trinity
Trinity Church was founded in 1732 when Newtown’s Congregational minister, the Reverend John Beach converted to the Anglican Church, causing considerable turmoil in the town. He sailed to Scotland where he was ordained by an Anglican Bishop and upon his return, conducted his first service as rector of what was to become Trinity parish.
In the next 100 years, Trinity grew to be the largest parish in the diocese with 300 communicants. It grew physically as well, moving to three different sites in the heart of Newtown.
Trinity continued to expand both physically and spiritually during the 20th century. The parish house was added, as well as the parking lot. Trinity developed a significant outreach program which gave funds for the construction of a parish house for St. Luke’s, New Haven, participated in creating Amos House, a transitional living facility for the homeless, helped establish the Family Counseling Center in Newtown and the Newtown Youth Services, a town-designated youth service bureau. Trinity also became a covenant church with Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of the international organization dedicated to building homes for low income families. In addition, Trinity prepared for and adopted the new Book of Common Prayer, and remodeled the sanctuary to incorporate a free-standing altar, underscoring the fact that the Eucharist had become the focus of our worship, and the congregation was given back their significant role in worship.
In 2000 the parish accomplished a successful 1.5-million-dollar capital campaign providing major renovations throughout the church and parish house. In recent years, members of Trinity helped to establish Ben’s Lighthouse, a grassroots organization founded following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School to honor 6-year old Benjamin Wheeler, a member of Trinity. A companion parish program with San José la Montaña in El Salvador, an active Stephen Ministry, and a commitment to the Newtown Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program were also initiated.
Trinity has been and continues to be a community of faith with open hearts, open minds and open hands; grounded in tradition, engaged in the present, investing in the future, becoming apostles, making disciples, following God into the neighborhood. You are a stranger here only once. It would be our great joy to welcome you among us.
In the next 100 years, Trinity grew to be the largest parish in the diocese with 300 communicants. It grew physically as well, moving to three different sites in the heart of Newtown.
Trinity continued to expand both physically and spiritually during the 20th century. The parish house was added, as well as the parking lot. Trinity developed a significant outreach program which gave funds for the construction of a parish house for St. Luke’s, New Haven, participated in creating Amos House, a transitional living facility for the homeless, helped establish the Family Counseling Center in Newtown and the Newtown Youth Services, a town-designated youth service bureau. Trinity also became a covenant church with Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of the international organization dedicated to building homes for low income families. In addition, Trinity prepared for and adopted the new Book of Common Prayer, and remodeled the sanctuary to incorporate a free-standing altar, underscoring the fact that the Eucharist had become the focus of our worship, and the congregation was given back their significant role in worship.
In 2000 the parish accomplished a successful 1.5-million-dollar capital campaign providing major renovations throughout the church and parish house. In recent years, members of Trinity helped to establish Ben’s Lighthouse, a grassroots organization founded following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School to honor 6-year old Benjamin Wheeler, a member of Trinity. A companion parish program with San José la Montaña in El Salvador, an active Stephen Ministry, and a commitment to the Newtown Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program were also initiated.
Trinity has been and continues to be a community of faith with open hearts, open minds and open hands; grounded in tradition, engaged in the present, investing in the future, becoming apostles, making disciples, following God into the neighborhood. You are a stranger here only once. It would be our great joy to welcome you among us.
Recent Clergy at Trinity
1970 – 1978 Stephen Gushee, Rector
1978 – 1979 Dr. Robert Back, Interim Rector
1979 – 1992 Frank Dunn, Rector
1992 – 1993 Patricia Hames, Interim Rector
1993 – 1994 Gregory Carlson-Bancroft, Rector
1994 – 1995 Charles Huffman, Interim Rector
1996 – 2016 Kathleen E. Adams-Shepherd, Rector
2017 – 2020 Dr. Jennifer Glaze Montgomery, Priest in Charge
2020 - Andrea Castner Wyatt, Rector
1970 – 1978 Stephen Gushee, Rector
1978 – 1979 Dr. Robert Back, Interim Rector
1979 – 1992 Frank Dunn, Rector
1992 – 1993 Patricia Hames, Interim Rector
1993 – 1994 Gregory Carlson-Bancroft, Rector
1994 – 1995 Charles Huffman, Interim Rector
1996 – 2016 Kathleen E. Adams-Shepherd, Rector
2017 – 2020 Dr. Jennifer Glaze Montgomery, Priest in Charge
2020 - Andrea Castner Wyatt, Rector
Our Campus
Church and Parish House
The present Trinity Church, completed in 1870, is the fourth building the parish has occupied since 1732. It was preceded by a wooden structure that stood just north of it. For a brief time, the old and new buildings were side by side; then the old church was dismantled and sold for $100. With it gone, the town was able to straighten the top of Church Hill Road. The building underwent major renovations in 1960 when the parish house was added, and again in the year 2000. If you look closely at our interior walls, you can still find the original building, intact.
The parish house includes the Glover Community Room, used for parish and community gatherings, a full-service kitchen, staff offices, and classroom space, which is shared with Trinity Day School. It is available for community use and is currently used by two Girl Scout troops, Alcoholics Anonymous, Charley's Angels, Connecticut Choral Society, Newtown Interfaith Council, Interfaith Partners for Refugee Resettlement and the Waterbury Symphony. To arrange to use the facilities please call the office at 203-426-9070.
The present Trinity Church, completed in 1870, is the fourth building the parish has occupied since 1732. It was preceded by a wooden structure that stood just north of it. For a brief time, the old and new buildings were side by side; then the old church was dismantled and sold for $100. With it gone, the town was able to straighten the top of Church Hill Road. The building underwent major renovations in 1960 when the parish house was added, and again in the year 2000. If you look closely at our interior walls, you can still find the original building, intact.
The parish house includes the Glover Community Room, used for parish and community gatherings, a full-service kitchen, staff offices, and classroom space, which is shared with Trinity Day School. It is available for community use and is currently used by two Girl Scout troops, Alcoholics Anonymous, Charley's Angels, Connecticut Choral Society, Newtown Interfaith Council, Interfaith Partners for Refugee Resettlement and the Waterbury Symphony. To arrange to use the facilities please call the office at 203-426-9070.
Memorial Garden
The Trinity Memorial Garden is a place for prayer, meditation, and final rest for the cremains of the departed. It is a lovely spot that provides an outdoor worship space in the summer. Cremains are interred by burial in the enclosure’s lawn; above-ground markers are not used. If you are interested in arranging a place in the Memorial Garden for yourself or a loved one, call the office at 203-426-9070 for information.
The Trinity Memorial Garden is a place for prayer, meditation, and final rest for the cremains of the departed. It is a lovely spot that provides an outdoor worship space in the summer. Cremains are interred by burial in the enclosure’s lawn; above-ground markers are not used. If you are interested in arranging a place in the Memorial Garden for yourself or a loved one, call the office at 203-426-9070 for information.
Labyrinth
Our permanent outdoor labyrinth was built in 2013 as an Eagle Scout project by youth parishioner Jack Benedict, We offer the opportunity to walk the labyrinth anytime, as one element in our larger effort to encourage people to experience the rich depths of spirituality in Christianity. The labyrinth is a combination of walking and prayer, with roots in ancient history. These "paths for prayer" have been part of Christian prayer and pilgrimage since the middle ages. Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives us insight into our spiritual journeys. Each walk into and out of the labyrinth is a unique opportunity to meet our creative, loving God through contemplative prayer.
Our permanent outdoor labyrinth was built in 2013 as an Eagle Scout project by youth parishioner Jack Benedict, We offer the opportunity to walk the labyrinth anytime, as one element in our larger effort to encourage people to experience the rich depths of spirituality in Christianity. The labyrinth is a combination of walking and prayer, with roots in ancient history. These "paths for prayer" have been part of Christian prayer and pilgrimage since the middle ages. Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives us insight into our spiritual journeys. Each walk into and out of the labyrinth is a unique opportunity to meet our creative, loving God through contemplative prayer.
Rectory and Curate House
The parish rectory was part of a bequest made by S. Curtis Glover in 1960. The four-bedroom Victorian-era home, built in 1890, sits at the top of Main Street, just one block from the church. In 1985 a three-bedroom curate house was constructed behind the rectory, and has provided a home for our curates, associate rectors and their families.
The parish rectory was part of a bequest made by S. Curtis Glover in 1960. The four-bedroom Victorian-era home, built in 1890, sits at the top of Main Street, just one block from the church. In 1985 a three-bedroom curate house was constructed behind the rectory, and has provided a home for our curates, associate rectors and their families.