The Church of the Holy Trinity has stood on South High Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania, since the first gatherings of Episcopalians in 1835 and the parish's official incorporation three years later in 1838. Generations later, the congregation still leans on a single line as its compass: "onward, ever onward." That motto translates today into two Sunday worship services, a community supper that has run for thirty years, a thrift shop, a culinary job-training program, and a music ministry that fills the church with choir and handbells each week.
Sunday Mornings and What to Expect
Worship follows the Book of Common Prayer and the rhythms Episcopalians have practiced for centuries. On Sundays two services are offered: a quiet 8:00 AM traditional service and a 10:30 AM service sung by the Chancel Choir. During the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the schedule consolidates to one 9:30 AM service with Eucharist. On Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, a Healing Service with Eucharist is held in Ascension Chapel.
The 10:30 service is the fuller liturgy. Members of the congregation circulate to greet one another during the peace, and the choir leads the singing. Communion follows. Visitors are encouraged to sign the guest book and stay for coffee hour afterwards, though newcomers are equally welcome to come and go as they please.
Dress is left entirely to the individual. Shorts in summer, jeans and sandals, suits and dresses - all are at home in the pews. Worshippers are not expected to know when to kneel, sit, stand, or say "Amen." The form of the service repeats from week to week, and newcomers quickly learn the pattern. As the parish explains, the common pattern opens up a familiar rhythm and mental space to commune more profoundly with God.
All baptized Christians, including children, are welcomed to communion, which is offered in both bread and wine. Anyone who prefers may receive only the bread, come forward for a blessing instead (crossing the hands over the chest signals this), or simply remain in the pew. Children are welcome in the service, where crayons and books are available in the Narthex, and most Sundays also offer youth classes.
Parking is available in the Union Street lot, with additional visitor spaces outside the lot and a roundabout at the front of the church for drop-offs. The church office, Parish Hall, and St Andrew's Room are reached through a back sidewalk and back entrance door. For those unable to attend in person, services are livestreamed.
A Long Table on Friday Nights
For thirty years, the parish has opened its doors every Friday evening for the Friday Night Supper, a community dinner that serves on average fifty-four neighbors each week. Guests may include people who are homeless, those staying in local shelters, the unemployed or under-employed, and neighbors simply looking for company. No questions are asked; all are welcome.
A rotating team of volunteers prepares a homemade meal each week, and the program has become one of the best-known expressions of the parish's commitment to West Chester.
From the Kitchen to a Career: Trinity Restaurant Training
Friday Night Supper grew into something larger. Parish Hall Kitchen, a separate non-profit housed at Holy Trinity, runs Trinity Restaurant Training, an eight-week professional culinary course that teaches knife skills, stocks, sauces and soups, pasta making, eggs and dairy, dry and moist cooking methods, baking, and plate presentation. Trainees are hired and paid by Parish Hall Kitchen during their course work, then offered the chance to work at Trinity Catering and parish events for the church.
Trinity Catering operates as a social-enterprise catering company. Every dollar of catering proceeds supports two ministries: Friday Night Supper and Trinity Restaurant Training. Customers get high-quality food at a reasonable price while employing the program's trainees and supporting the surrounding community. Orders can be placed through info@phk-wc.org or by calling (484) 653-9307.
Trinity Treasures on Barnard Street
A short walk from the church, at 10 West Barnard Street, Trinity Treasures Thrift Shop offers women's, men's, and children's clothing alongside accessories, decor, kitchen items, and toys. Proceeds go to local social services, non-profits, and charities. The shop's hours - Thursday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Friday 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and Saturday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM - may vary based on volunteer availability, and the selection and discounts change weekly. The store is closed over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Large furniture, magazines, textbooks, damaged items, playpens, car seats, strollers, and crib-type items cannot be accepted, though donations are tax deductible.
Music at Holy Trinity
The Chancel Choir welcomes singers from high school age and above for one rehearsal and one service each week. Rehearsals take place at 9:30 on Sunday mornings from September through June, in preparation for the choral worship service at 10:30. Rehearsals are concentrated and rewarding; singers learn a great deal and have a lot of fun. Young people can also join a handbell choir and a theater group through Family Formation.
Family Formation, Adult Ministries, and a Long Memory
The parish is committed to the Christian formation of children and teenagers. Family Formation Gatherings are held at 10:00 AM in the Parish Hall on Sundays, where all ages are welcome to hear God's story together.
Adults gather throughout the year for Christian education in St Andrew's Room, often centered on a book discussion or Bible exploration. The Anti-Racism and Reconciliation Ministry grew from a recognition that the sin of racism remains alive, and the group works to share concerns, books, and other resources, increase awareness through events and educational forums, and create a visual display telling the merged history from 1835 to the present of the congregations of Holy Trinity and the Church of the Ascension.
Two fellowship groups meet on Mondays from 10:30 AM to noon. Sarah's Circle is a fellowship of quilters who create quilts and related items that are sold to support women and children and church-related projects. Trinity Stitchers makes prayer shawls, lap robes, Christening blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens for those in need. Members may also knit or crochet at home.
Pastoral Care and the Prayer Chain
Pastoral Care responds to the needs of the parish community, including those who are ill, hospitalized, or homebound, and to people in seasons of transition or serving as family caregivers. Every member of the church shares in this work; concerns and prayer requests are sent to the parish office.
The Prayer Chain has been active for twenty-eight years, with a small group of volunteers offering daily prayers at the request of members of the church community. All requests remain confidential.
The Episcopal Way at Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity's ministry is shaped by the wider Episcopal Church, which the parish describes as a tradition that does not operate in a world of black and white expectations but explores the truth together. Episcopalians draw on three sources of authority - Scripture, Tradition, and Reason - and embrace the insights of modern science, history, and personal experience. Worship uses the Book of Common Prayer, a name that reflects the entire community's invitation to participate. The word Episcopal itself means "bishop," a reminder that individual believers are nonetheless connected with Christians in heaven and on earth.
The Episcopal Church has a legacy of inclusion: women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons, and laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels. Holy Trinity welcomes LGBTQ+ members with warmth and compassion. Same-sex couples have worshipped at the parish with their children, and gay members have held senior leadership positions. The parish has experience supporting transgender individuals within the church family, from youth to adulthood, with love and respect. In keeping with a commitment that all are welcome, Holy Trinity works to be a safe and accepting place for everyone, regardless of who they are or who they love, to worship and thrive as God's own children.
Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Keith Marsh serves as Interim Rector. John Kampmeyer is the Minister of Music, and Susan Karas is the Minister for Family Formation. Giving to support the parish's ministries and outreach is available through PayPal.