Trinity Chapel celebrates its first century

Celebrate the first century of Trinity Episcopal Church in York Harbor by being a part of this summer's many special events to be held at the historic church on York Street.
Courtesy photo

YORK HARBOR - In June of 1908, the cornerstone of Trinity Episcopal Church, marking the beginning of what would become a summer destination for the faithful for generations to come.

Beginning this month, and continuing throughout the summer, Trinity Chapel, as the church is known, will offer centennial programs that will give local residents and visitors alike the opportunity to return to this beautiful church - or visit it for the first time - to take part in both sacred and secular events.

The centennial celebration runs from May to September, explained Centennial Chairman Richard "Dick" Balkite, and all are welcome at every event.

"York Harbor is a popular summer destination and Trinity Church offers residents and visitors the opportunity to worship - and also, this year, to be entertained - in a beautiful and spacious stone edifice designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, famed architect of Boston's Copley Plaza Hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City," Balkite noted in his announcement of this summer season of special events.

And the list is a lengthy one, to be sure. There will be Sunday services officiated by visiting clergy from across the nation - and across the Atlantic. The schedule includes a variety of musical offerings - from classical to pop. There will be dramatic presentations of T.S. Eliot's Noble-prize winning play "Murder in the Cathedral," and a lecture linking Trinity Chapel's architecture with the history of York Harbor itself.

According to church history, as included in a special brochure of created in honor of the centennial, summer residents raised funds for the church to be governed by trustees within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Maine. The building was designed by Hardenbergh in 1907 and built by E.E. Goodwin of York Harbor.

The fieldstone church, which seats 400, includes a stone bell tower; a 12-rank, 947-pipe Wicks Organ, and two large stained glass windows, while the church's overhead structural beams create what the history describes as "equilateral triangles reflective of the Trinity."

Services at the church began June 6, 1909, and now enter their 100^th consecutive year.

In modern times, the church has an outreach mission in support of the Episcopal Church's Millennium Development Goals. According to information provided by the trustees, the church is contributing to the KIVA Project, which provides micro-business loans to individuals in the world's most impoverished areas and, in Maine, supports chaplaincy services at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham with funds toward the purchase of educational materials and other resources to assist the inmates.

The Trinity Episcopal Church clergy members are Rev. R. Craig Burlington, D. Min., and Rev. Aaron Perkins, Deacon. Members of the Board of Trustees are Chairman Emeritus Henry G. Brooks, Jr., Co-Chairman Caroline G. Donnelly, Co-Chairman Caroline J. Hollingsworth, Treasurer Ala H. Reid, Clerk Calvin Hosmer and Balkite, who serves as the centennial chairman.

The church's trustees, along with members of the church who agreed to help with various parts of the process, have been at work for about nine months on this summer's celebration.

The goal of the program, Balkite said, is to give many more people the chance to learn about, enjoy and appreciate Trinity Church and become a part of its second century.

The centennial special events began at the end of May with a performance by the York Singers, and continue in the weeks and months ahead with something for everyone.

On June 7 there will be a performance of "Four Voices in Concert" at 8 p.m. Morgan McCurdy, Robin Shaw, Harry Moon and Bill Wieting will present Brahms' beloved "Liebeslieder Waltzer," with four-hand piano accompaniment performed by Audrey Adams and Geoffrey Wieting.

On June 13, enjoy "Two for One: An Evening of Song" at 8 p.m. as the Fourth Street Jazz Choir, directed by Kathy Fink, is joined by the Joyful Belles, an inspirational women's chorus directed by Tami Burns.

The series of musical presentations continues June 21 with the "Seacoast Community Chorus European Tour Send-Off Concert" and the "Amazing Voices and Timbres of the Wicks Organ," set for June 27. Both of these special events will be held at 8 p.m.

In July, there will be four performances of "Murder in the Cathedral." Acclaimed local actor, director and producer Tim Robinson will present this program with the Trinity Chapel itself as the setting, featuring an ensemble cast from across New England. Performances will be July 18, 19, 25 and 26, all at 7 p.m.

On July 23, enjoy "Dueling A Cappellas" when the Bow Tie Guys, under the direction of Wendell Purrington, and Women of Note, Southern Maine's premier female a cappella group, perform spiritual, secular and patriotic classics from contrasting ranges and styles.

The Portsmouth Music and Arts Center Junior Jazz Ensemble will present a special program on Aug. 8 at noon that will be a perfect program for families with children who love music.

On Aug. 20, don't miss "The Architecture and History of Trinity Church" at 6 p.m., when author Richard S. Jackson, Jr., offers an onsite lecture exploring the intertwining of York Harbor's history with the architecture of Trinity Church.

Sunday services will be offered from June 15 to Sept. 7 at 10:30 a.m., with organ and choir. Visiting clergy from as close as St. George's Episcopal Church in York Harbor and as far away as Chicago, Ill., and York, England, will be the celebrants. On Aug. 3, Balkite explained, the service will be officiated by the Very Reverend Keith Brynmor Jones, dean of York Minster, York, England.

"The two Yorks have a little bit of history in 1941," Balkite explained, as York, Maine, provided war baskets to help the people of its sister city in England during World War II.

For more about Trinity Episcopal Church or this summer's many events, call 363-5095.