Welcome to Trinity Buffalo!

The Call:

Trinity Church of Buffalo, New York, seeks a new rector who embraces an open and spiritually inquisitive community, who embodies caring and compassion, and who is excited about the opportunity to support the ongoing growth of a strong and vibrant family-friendly congregation within a richly textured urban setting.

In this parish profile, we invite you to meet our congregation of people from varying spiritual and religious backgrounds, to become acquainted with our history, traditions, and current programs, and to understand our profound strengths and challenges as we look to the future.

We hope that this profile will help our new rector to understand what the worship of God means to our congregation and to sense our hope and anticipation at the opportunity of beginning a new chapter for Trinity.

What We Learned from Our Parish Survey
Our February 2026 parish survey revealed a congregation deeply committed to both spiritual depth and authentic community. Several themes emerged clearly.

1. A Deep Commitment to Worship and Music

Parishioners consistently named meaningful worship and exceptional music as central to Trinity’s identity. Members cherish the blending of traditional Episcopal liturgy with modern, poetry, diverse musical styles, and creative expression. The music program is described as “inspiring,” “soul-stirring,” and “a gateway to the sacred.”

2. A Desire for Strong, Compassionate Pastoral Leadership

Our congregation seeks a rector who is:

● A thoughtful and engaging preacher

● Spiritually grounded and theologically curious

● Visible and accessible

● Compassionate in pastoral care

● Energetic and collaborative in leadership

Survey responses emphasized the importance of a rector who listens well, builds relationships, and empowers lay leadership rather than working alone.

3. Radical Welcome and Inclusion

Trinity’s commitment to inclusion across generations, identities, theological perspectives, and life experiences is one of our greatest strengths. Parishioners expressed a strong desire to continue deepening our welcome, especially to newcomers, young families, and those exploring their faith.

4. Intergenerational Growth

We are proud of our family-friendly environment and seek to expand formation opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Parishioners hope for creative approaches to faith formation that will nurture spiritual growth at every age.

5. Community Engagement and Social Justice

Members value Trinity’s engagement with the wider Buffalo community. There is enthusiasm for continuing and strengthening outreach ministries that address injustice, poverty, and systemic inequity. Our congregation desires leadership that can help articulate and organize our response to the needs of our city.

6. Strong Lay–Clergy Partnership

A consistent survey theme was the importance of collaboration. Trinity’s laity are gifted, capable, and eager to serve. We seek a Rector who recognizes and celebrates shared ministry, fostering transparency, communication, and mutual accountability.

Our Mission & Vision

Trinity is a metropolitan house of prayer – a community of worship and spiritual inquiry, welcoming all people. Recognizing our common brokenness, yet rejoicing in the reconciling love of God, we will:

Embody the diversity of the Christian faith as expressed through the Episcopal Church;
Nurture one another in our spiritual life;
Proclaim the love of God for all people in the voices of each new generation;
Gather the wisdom and resources of the community of faith to name and heal the wounds of injustice.

Embody the diversity of the Christian faith as expressed through the Episcopal Church;
Nurture one another in our spiritual life;
Proclaim the love of God for all people in the voices of each new generation;
Gather the wisdom and resources of the community of faith to name and heal the wounds of injustice.

Trinity was founded in 1836 in order to include more people in the life of the church. We are steadfast in our mission of clear, inclusive invitation to people at all points along their spiritual journeys and from all places in society, especially those on the margins of society. We are a warm, dynamic community that gathers around the holy table to feed each other’s souls and encourage each other in carrying that spiritual nurture into places where it is needed outside the church.

The Trinity building is an artistic, sacred space for Buffalo, home to a progressive Christian community of radical welcome.

About Us

Our Worship

Our Sunday morning services offer a combination of traditional Episcopal liturgy with modern poetry and prose, and varying genres of music throughout. Trinity takes pride in our robust music program, including traditional hymns, spirituals, organ, piano, jazz, contemporary, and classical. On a weekly basis we feature guest musicians on brass, woodwind, and string instruments, adding to the experience.

Open Communion is a hallmark of Trinity’s worship and a visible expression of our radical welcome. All are welcome to receive Communion at Trinity, no matter your age, background, denominational affiliation or stage along the spiritual journey. Children too are fully welcomed to the table.

Each week, we gather in a circle around the worship space, facing one another as we share in the holy meal as a community. Standing together in this way reminds us that the Eucharist is not only a personal encounter with God’s grace, but a communal act: a sign of reconciliation, belonging, and shared life in Christ. We are all held equally in God’s love.

Our Sunday evening service offers spirituality without all the religion. In an effort to make room for those who are searching for spirituality yet allergic to church, the service is deliberately non-Christian. Known as Trinity@7, this beloved service combines soft jazz music and candlelight, seating in the round, and readings that are not specifically religious, this quiet service focuses on individual spirituality.

We offer a Wednesday noontime service where Holy Communion is celebrated and prayers are offered for the world. This is an informal gathering with shared leadership of the readings and prayers. In place of a sermon, the group engages in thoughtful discussion of the readings.

Thursday evenings is the weekly offering of 12 Steps@Trinity, a bridge between Episcopal worship and the spirituality of 12-Step recovery. Trinity's 12-Step community includes many who have journeyed toward liberation with the 12-Steps, and they look to share what they have learned, as well as celebrate the presence of God. This group has formed a strong service-oriented community with unique music, provided by a group of volunteer musicians, reinforcing the 12-Step message.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting, Trinity gathers Sunday mornings for Outdoor Worship in our courtyard. Surrounded by our beautifully tended garden, accompanied by the gentle bubbling of the koi pond, and framed by the subtle, steady rhythm of Delaware Avenue, we experience worship in a way that feels both contemplative and joyfully alive.

These summer liturgies reflect the heart of Trinity, one rooted in tradition, yet open to creation; grounded in sacred ritual yet fully engaged with the life of the city around us. Worship outdoors deepens our sense of community, invites newcomers with ease, and reminds us that God meets us not only within stone walls, but under open skies.

Weekly Services

Like all churches Trinity was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic Trinity quickly adapted to online worship. While we all missed an opportunity to gather in person, technology created an opportunity to reach people in their homes and remain connected. We have an active online Trinity community and now consider online worship and programming an important part of our ministry. All of our worship services are livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube.

Community Partners
and Tenants

Trinity’s mission isn’t strictly worship attendance. We are proud to have roots in and throughout the City of Buffalo and look forward to expanding our reach and impact in the years ahead.

“Trinity Episcopal Church saw a need in our community and started Compass House in the 1970s. They are responsible for opening our emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth ages 12-17 where we have since served over 16,000 youth of all gender identities. We have a Trinity representative on our Board, and the church is very supportive of all the events Compass House does. We are forever grateful for the relationship we have with Trinity!” - Lisa Freeman, Executive Director of Compass House

For more about the partner organizations housed at Trinity and highlights of our congregation’s support of their activities last year:

Justice for Migrant Families is supported by Trinity volunteers, they are on the front lines of supporting our neighbors at risk of detention and deportation.
Center of Glass & Light raised over $160,000 to support the restoration of Trinity's "Sealing of the Servants of God" window.
Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) - In addition to increasing the visibility of the importance of historic stained glass throughout Western New York, SGAA has supported the Center of Glass & Light in raising money to restore Trinity's windows. Additionally, SGAA hosted 5 window tours for other organizations.
Clean Air Coalition of Western New York - In addition to their regular work, they were responsible for two outside organizations choosing to rent Trinity space during the last year: Go Bike Buffalo and the WNY Land Conservancy.
Creative Restorations - Were able to give out 400 meals donated by Trinity members for their clients.
Gardens Buffalo Niagara - Trinity members joined the Jewish Federation and other Buffalo houses of worship in visiting East Side gardens and also participated as gardeners as well as garden visitors for Garden Walk Buffalo, Open Gardens, and the East Side Garden Walk.
Jung Center - has a monthly book study at Trinity that has included Trinity members since its inception.

In addition:

Our City Action Buffalo - Hosted a name change clinic attended by approximately 50 people
The Rainbow Room - Organizes 12 step meetings that are safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community
Buffalo Immigrant Leadership Team (BILT) - Building a strong, healthy refugee and immigrant community in and around Buffalo
Liberated Wellness Center - Provides intentional, holistic, and thoughtful interventions that promote healing and wellbeing, particularly for Black, Brown, Queer and other marginalized individuals and communities.

Special Events and Services

Trinity also engages in many local social justice-oriented events and partnerships across the city and serves as a venue for a wide variety of cultural events, meetings, and services throughout the year.

Annual Buffalo Pride Parade

Our children at play

Our church is a popular spot to visit along the annual Allentown Art Festival route as art lovers come to view our beautiful building and grounds showcasing our historic windows.

"We the people" means everyone

Pets are a blessing!

Cinco De Mayo! Mocktails anyone?

Let's Go Buffalo!
Welcome to Bills Country

We honor our Veterans at the annual Buffalo Bills watch party.
Our vets know how important peace is.

Trinity During Christmas

Silent Night, Christmas Eve Service

AcRolytes! See what we did there?

2 little angels

Financial Forecast

From a financial viewpoint, 2025 was a very good year for Trinity. Our income from fundraisers, weddings, rentals, and regular offerings was slightly higher ($10,000) than 2024, for a total of $511,000. But in addition to regular offerings, there were several large gifts for the Windows and general operations.

In 2025, our total operating revenue jumped to a record $764,000, while our expenses only rose by $11,000. The results for the year increased in our investment funds to $1,112,000. The highest number in at least 20 years.

2025 has also seen progress on realigning our physical assets. Our large parking lot was once a significant source of revenue, but in recent years, city parking patterns have changed, greatly reducing the revenue generated from it. Consequently, the pending sale will convert an underutilized asset into a positive social service with a significant increase to the Trinity endowment.

Our History

History Timeline

Trinity started in 1836, and since then quite a lot has happened. Our buildings are historic, as is our record of helping the Buffalo community outside of our doors. Trinity’s present-day community continues to contribute to, and foster, this rich legacy.

Built between 1869 and 1905, Trinity Episcopal Church is historically and architecturally a distinguished religious complex reflecting the growth of a major American city as well as the new developments in art and architecture during the era. Trinity is a local landmark listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The church complex is nationally significant as the site of a seminal program of opalescent glass and interior decoration by American master John La Farge.

As large and massive as our three big historic buildings are, it seems as if Trinity should have a steeple pointing high into the sky like Asbury Church (the current Ani DiFranco building at Delaware and Tupper). Like most things at Trinity there is a story behind this humble tower.

In 1877, unemployment among the sea of immigrants was even higher than usual because of the railroad strike. There were no public service agencies in Buffalo, so Dr. Walter Cary and Ms. Maria Love started the Trinity Cooperative Relief Society. Volunteers from Trinity Church found work for the unemployed and paid them in cash, food or clothing. One widow who had six children was taught to bake and sell her own bread and within a year she was making and delivering 1000 loaves of bread and so supporting her family. Then in 1893, a horrible economic depression swept the country. Rather than retreating from their work for fear there wouldn’t be enough money, Trinity House was established on Elk Street and the program expanded.

Trinity had become an “Establishment” congregation in Buffalo and many of its members wanted to build a grand tower to match those of local surrounding churches and a design was created. However, even with most of the money raised, Maria Love convinced congregational leaders to spend it on expanding Trinity House and the Cooperative Society instead. In 1903, Watson House was built on Babcock Street. Ms. Love initiated an entire movement among the downtown Churches that eventually divided the city into districts and each congregation took responsibility for caring for the people in need in their particular district.

It’s always been about the people at Trinity far more than a stone steeple.

Place this in a box, highlight’s Buffalo collection of windows also: Megan’s video[1] [2] : The Art of Light: Stained Glass in Buffalo, NY - YouTube

[1]Suggest we have a page with large photos of our windows or just one window. Can have a caption in a box that includes a link to Megan's video. I'm saying this because, while the video is great, it is about all of Buffalo's collection, not just Trinity.

[2]suggest that we shorten the window piece and add some window photos...agree with Teresa that the video is excellent but its not just about Trinitys window.

While Trinity is fortunate to have the LaFarge and Tiffany windows they are also a significant financial burden. The estimate to repair them all was $7 million and that quote is old

About Buffalo and
Our Neighborhood

About Buffalo and Our Neighborhood:

We love our location in the City of Buffalo and being centrally located for supporting our community. Get to know the Allentown neighborhood which Trinity calls home.

We’re more than football and chicken wings (although ours are the best). There’s so much do, see, and explore in the Buffalo-Niagara region, including visiting our neighbors to the North in Southern Ontario!

Work in Buffalo:

Considering moving to Buffalo with a spouse or other family member who will also be seeking employment? Visit WNY Jobs – Buffalo, NY Jobs and Employment Ads to get started on your search.

Sports Fan? We got you!

We have a downtown arena, baseball field, and new football stadium just 20 minutes away.

Buffalo Food is legendary with Buffalo wings at the top of all food groups. Anchor is known to be the home of the original wings, but many others have bring stiff competition. We even have a wing festival!

Things To Do:

This is complete list of all the attractions featured on our site in alphabetical order. It's pretty long, so we offer you some more bite-size options. You can find lists for the following types of attractions by following these links provided by https://www.westernny.com/index.html

Museums & Historic Sites

Parks & Nature Preserves

Winter Attractions

Other Attractions

A list by sub-regions by clicking below:

1. Rochester / Erie Canal area attractions

2. Genesee Valley / Letchworth area attractions

3. Western Finger Lakes area attractions

4. Corning / Elmira area attractions

5. Chautauqua / Allegheny area attractions

6. Buffalo / Niagara Frontier area attractions