NEWPORT, R.I. (WJAR) — In the heart of Newport stands master builder Richard Munday’s Trinity Episcopal Church.
Bells beckon the faithful to worship.
For centuries, the church with its exquisite Tiffany windows, has been the soul of the community. The congregation formed in 1698, and this building was constructed in 1726.
“I actually grew up coming to this church. I sat in one of these balcony pews when I was a kid,” said the Rev. Canon Meaghan Kelly Brower.
She never saw it coming, but today, Brower is the rector.
NBC 10’s Patrice Wood reports that Trinity Church is marking a milestone in 2026.
She’s the one climbing the iconic stairs of the only surviving free-standing, three-tiered, wineglass pulpit to preach to the congregation.
She carries on the mission here that began in colonial times and continued through wars and the Gilded Age to the present.
“The fact that there has been a group of people here over all of these years that have prayed and listened and acted in faith and cared for this community is really spectacular,” she said.
The rich and famous, the Astors, the Vanderbilts, have been parishioners over the years.
George Washington sat in Box 81. Later, so did Queen Elizabeth II and Bishop Desmond Tutu.
But it’s the local families who have kept this church going.
Dr. John Hattendorf is a church parishioner, historian and former naval officer who emphasizes the importance of the prominent Newport landmark for sailors.
“The steeple is a beacon and for people coming by sea, and as a former naval officer, I used to use it navigating into the harbor,” Hattendorf said.
A church building with a 300-year history, now looking ahead to the next three centuries.
“Everyone is welcome to worship here,” Brower said. “We’re very lucky to have a vibrant and growing congregation.”
Former Rhode Island Gov. Philip Noel greets Queen Elizabeth II during her 1976 visit to Newport. (WJAR){ }
Trinity Episcopal Church, an anchor of the community, in the city by the sea.
Trinity will be hosting concerts and lectures throughout the year to celebrate.
Jeff Clark, one of the parishioners, nominated his church.
You can nominate a nonprofit in your neighborhood for “Community Treasures” by filling out a short form.