Trinity Parish was organized in May, 1849.  After meeting in a school house, the foundation for a church building was begun 1851 at the corner of Lake Street and Spruce Street.  The lot, donated by Roswell Wilder, was for consideration of a lifetime pew rent.  That church was consecrated on July 18, 1854.  In 1867, the brick Gothic church was abandoned for a more central location, Arcadome Hall on Broadway (now Route 25) and then sold to a Baptist congregation. 

 On Easter Sunday, April 19, 1870, the cornerstone for the present stone church was laid at the corner of Benton and Lincoln Streets.  It was built at a cost of $11,250 and opened for services on Trinity Sunday, June 4, 1871.  It is now the oldest church in Aurora that is still occupied by the original congregation. 

 Trinity Parish has had 24 rectors during its 158-year history.  The current priest, The Reverend Charles de Kay came to us in July of 2006 after the retirement of the Reverend William Robertson Burden.  Reverend Burden served Trinity for 31 years. 

 

Magnificent stained-glass windows

    In the sanctuary, the Tiffany-style windows reflect a 19th-century pattern: more picture and less gray, but they were made to harmonize with other windows in the church.  The window on the left depicts the flight into Egypt by the Holy Family, to escape Herod's wrath.  The middle window is Jesus in the temple at the age of twelve, and the one on the right is the Crucifixion. 

    We recently discovered a book, "Symbols of the Church together with Saints and Their Emblems" edited by Carrol E. Whittemore with drawings by William Duncan, published by Whittemore Associates, Inc. Boston, Ma. that helped us compile a description of the symbols contained in Trinity's Stained Glass windows. The description is not definitive, so if you find mistakes or have additional information, please contact me at rob@trinityaurora.org. Click Here to view the updated document.

 

The Pipe Organ and Screen

    The screen by the organ console has two memorial plaques: one to an early rector, The Reverend Charles A Holbrook, who guided the church from 1883-1905; and to whom the organ was originally dedicated.  The other memorial is to John Leo Lewis, noted organist and composer, who served from 1946-191.  The organ, built for Trinity by M.P. Moller in 1924 at a cost of $14,000, was the third organ in the church.  In the 1970's it sustained water damage and went unused for more than 20 years.  It has been restored and rebuilt by William J. Stephens in 2001 and has been a cause of celebration and a series of dedicatory recitals held in the past year.  The last dedicatory recital is set for May 5, 2002 with a reception to follow.  The organ has three manuals; great, swell, choir, echo, and pedal departments; and 27 ranks, plus 20 cathedral chimes and a 61-bar harp, which was the largest harp that could be installed in an organ.  To build it today would cost approximately $300,000.00.

Click Here to download a more extensive history of trinity.

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