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Trinity Church

Photo Credit: Greater Boston CVB

Although it's shadowed by the neighboring John Hancock skyscraper, Trinity Church nevertheless stands tall as a masterpiece of American architecture. In 1885 Trinity Church was named the country's greatest building in an American Architect & Building News poll. And its legacy continues. In 1986 the American Institute of Architects named it one of the nation's 10 greatest public buildings.

Inspired by 11th-century French and Spanish Romanesque architecture, H.H. Richardson designed the church to reflect the powerfully fresh preaching of the rector, Phillips Brooks. As such, when the church's new building was completed in 1876, it broke rank with the ecclesiastical architecture of its time.

But the imposing façade of light-colored granite and red-hued sandstone pales in comparison to the breathtaking highlights inside-a suspended chancel cross, wood carvings on the pulpit and pews, 19th-century stained glass windows of varying styles, a gilded altar, imposing arches, ornate organ pipes, and more.

While sightseers flock to Trinity Church, it is more than an historical landmark. The Episcopal church remains an active spiritual center, drawing some 1,500 attendees to its elaborate Easter services. On Fridays at 12:15 p.m., from September through mid-June, guest organists treat listeners to a 30-minute pipe organ concert.

Location
Trinity Church is located at 206 Clarendon Street on Copley Square in the center of Boston's Back Bay. Copley Square's boundaries are Dartmouth Street to the west, Boylston Street to the north, St. James Avenue to the south, and Clarendon Street to the east.

Public transportation can bring you within a block or two of the church. If you take the T, get off at the Orange Line's Back Bay station and walk two blocks north. If you use the Green Line, get off at the Copley Square station and walk one block east.

Hours of operation
The church is open daily, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., at minimum. Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1–4 p.m. Self-guided tours are available Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and on Sunday afternoons.

Sunday services are held at 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 6 p.m. Three services are held each weekday from September through June.

Cost
Guided tours cost $5 per person, while self-guided tours cost $3 per person. A free guided tour takes place immediately following the 11:15 a.m. service each Sunday. All tours include a copy of Trinity Church's award-winning map. There is no charge for children younger than age 12 on any of the tours.

Visitors who wish simply to pray, meditate, or rest inside the church are not charged an admission fee.

Contact information
Call (617) 536-0944 for general information or to arrange specialty tours.

Disabled access
While the church currently has limited disabled access, its ongoing building improvements aim to expand accessibility.

Additional information

• Annual Christmas services include two classic carols composed by a former minister and former associate minister of Trinity Church: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "We Three Kings of Orient Are."
• Visit the Trinity Church Web site.

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.