Our Parish
Welcome to the website for Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We’re glad you found us, and we’re pleased to share some of what is special about our community — a community growing in commitment to live our daily lives as followers of Jesus.
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The Rev. Gary Manning, Rector, tosapriest@gmail.com
Blair Craig-Barlow, Administrative Assistant, churchoffice@trinitywauwatosa.org
Beth Vogel, Treasurer, treasurer@trinitywauwatosa.org
Curt Sather, Director of Music, music@trinitywauwatosa.org
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Wardens
Tom Mackenzie, Senior Warden, srwarden@trinitywauwatosa.org
Rebecca Arnell, Junior Warden, jrwarden@trinitywauwatosa.org
Vestry Members: Kristie Bonney, Denise Curran, Marty Gifford, Anna Holdorf, Laura Love, Will Morse, Bill Robison, Marlene Udovich and Emily Watkins
About the Vestry
The word vestry stems from the Latin vestire (“to clothe, to put on”). Originally the word referred to the room where the priest would put on his vestments, at which time local laity would meet with him to discuss the parish's affairs. Later, the word came to refer to the leaders, instead of the room. The vestry is the governing board of a local Episcopal parish: an elected group of representatives charged with the administrative and fiscal management of the parish, its funds and physical property, and with working in tandem with the clergy to develop the spiritual direction of the church. They are leaders in the parish, but their role is to help facilitate the ministry of the members, rather than to perform it on their behalf.
At Trinity, our bylaws specify a vestry consisting of nine members. Vestry members are elected in groups of three to staggered three-year terms. In addition to the elected members of the vestry, parish leadership includes two “wardens”. The roles of the wardens vary between Episcopal churches, but in general, the Senior Warden is charged with direct care of the clergy and with leadership of the vestry. In addition, in the absence of a Rector, the Senior Warden presides over the parish. The Junior Warden is generally given responsibility for the physical property and buildings of the church and is often the liaison to the buildings and grounds committee. At Trinity, our wardens work together as a leadership team to direct the work of the vestry and to care for both the clergy and membership. Wardens are elected to one-year terms. All elections take place at the parish’s annual meeting which is held each year in January. There are term limits of two 3 year terms for the vestry and three one-year terms for wardens.
Parochial leadership in the Episcopal Church is shared between the rector (pastor) and the vestry, an elected group of representatives charged with the administrative and fiscal management of the parish. Trinity’s current vestry members, including the wardens who hold leadership positions, are below. We welcome your input and feedback, as well as your prayers.
The vestry meets monthly and all meetings are open to the membership of the parish. An executive committee consisting of the clergy, wardens, treasurer and clerk meets typically one week prior to each vestry meeting to finalize agenda items and prepare for the upcoming meeting. The dates of vestry meetings appear in the church calendar. As the vestry is a representative form of governance in the church, all members are available at any time to hear the suggestions or concerns of the parish members.
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The Trinity Church Foundation Inc. was formed in May, 1998 by the Trinity Vestry to manage the long-term assets of Trinity Church and provide a secure, perpetual source of revenue for the church and its outreach programs. The Foundation gives 5% of its assets to the church annually, and invests the rest so it will continue to grow and produce income for future generations at Trinity.
Trinity Church is the sole owner of the Foundation. The Trinity members who formed the Foundation believed ardently that it should be a guardian of long-term funds, protecting principal, and providing an anchor for the future financial health of the parish and its charitable and educational work.
A seven-member Board of Directors oversees the Foundation by approving the amount to be given to the church each year, monitoring investment performance and hiring and working with outside investment professionals. The Board is made up of the Rector, the Senior Warden, and five members in good standing serving staggered five-year terms, elected by the Vestry.
The Foundation is structured to receive donations and bequests and set them to work for the long-term. You may make a gift to the Foundation at any time, name the Foundation in your will, or designate the Foundation as a memorial gift. You may also direct all or part of a gift or memorial made to Trinity Church to the Foundation for investment. All donations are tax-deductible.
If you would like more information about the Foundation, please contact the church office, Rector, Senior Warden or Foundation President.
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The first recorded Episcopal service held in Wauwatosa occurred on March 11, 1844 led by Bishop Jackson Kemper, first bishop of the Diocese of Wisconsin. In 1873 St. John’s Episcopal Mission was formed and held services in a converted schoolhouse at Root Common near the village. The mission purchased three and one-half acres of land from J. W. Warren, the property now occupied by Trinity. St. John’s was dissolved in 1883.
Trinity Church was founded on April 4, 1887 with the Rev. Dr. Edward Purdin Wright as its first rector. Shortly thereafter plans for a new church building on the property formerly owned by St. John’s Mission were formulated. The cornerstone was laid on June 22, 1889 and the first services were held on October 10, 1889. The church consisted of only a nave; there was no chancel, sacristy or parish hall. In 1901 the parish added a chancel, sacristy, guild hall and the first rectory.
In the ensuing years the parish experienced many severe financial problems and several changes of rectors, but after the Great Depression, by 1939, the Sunday school had outgrown the church space and there was a need for a church office. Church affairs were handled in a spare bedroom in the rented house occupied by the rector. In June 1939 the rector moved into the newly constructed rectory on Milwaukee Avenue. The house included parish office space and Sunday school space in the basement. This house is still in use by Trinity as residence for assisting clergy on the parish staff.
In the years after World War II Wauwatosa and Trinity experienced substantial growth. It wasn’t too long until the parish needed expanded worship space. Construction on the current church building began in the spring of 1950, and the cornerstone was laid on November 5. The first services and dedication were held on Trinity Sunday, May 20, 1951. The old church building was renovated for use as the Sunday school and parish hall.
The parish continued to grow in the early 1950’s and the need for expanded Sunday school, parish hall and parish office facilities became evident. The old church building was demolished. The current parish hall was constructed and was dedicated on September 16, 1956. In 1964 the Chapel of the Ascension was added to the church.
During the 1970’s Trinity experienced a period of stability. Notable occurrences during this time were the renovation of the sanctuary adding a free-standing altar, construction of the 1,648 pipe organ, and several visits by the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey after his retirement. Trinity endowed Bishop Ramsey’s teaching missions at Nashotah House (the Episcopal seminary near Delafield, Wisconsin) during this time.
In the 1980’s Trinity experienced another era of parish growth. As part of its centennial celebration in 1987 the parish planned and embarked upon a major renovation of the church and parish hall. The narthex was expanded; an elevator installed; new offices constructed; and upgrades were made to the parish hall, Sunday school space and kitchen. The renovated space was dedicated on December 12, 1993.
Throughout its history Trinity has supported the origination and development of many mission programs through financial and hands-on support. Programs such as the Cuban Resettlement Program, The Gathering, The Ulster Project, The Haiti Project, Jubilee House, Our Next Generation, and Habitat for Humanity have been important parts of parish life over the past forty years.
During the remainder of the 1990’s and early 2000’s Trinity Church experienced a time of transition and stabilization. In July 2004 the Reverend Gary B. Manning was appointed by the Bishop of Milwaukee as vicar, at the request and with the support of the vestry. Fr. Manning was elected by the vestry to be the rector in January of 2006. Trinity Parish is now poised to enter the next phase of its second century as a strong and caring congregation dedicated to spreading the love of our Lord to the surrounding community and the world.
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At the beginning of each month, we published a newsletter called the “Tidings.” We send the newsletter out electronically to everyone signed up to receive our e-news. Want to be added to the distribution list? Simply email the church office at churchoffice@trinitywauwatosa.org.
March 2025 Tidings
February 2025 Tidings
July 2023 Tidings
1717 Church St.
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
(414) 453-4540