Trinity Profile - 2026

2026

Our rectors over the past thirty years have had signi cant impact on our parish and on the Wilmington community and the state of Delaware. For example, in 1994, the Reverend Luis Leòn invited a Latino congregation in Wilmington, whose church was closing, to worship at Trinity, and they have been part of our parish ever since; an all-Spanish service is o ered every Sunday at noon. Our next rector, the Reverend Anne Bonneman, was instrumental in founding the Interfaith Coalition of Wilmington in 2005 and the Wilmington HOPE Commission in 2006, a correctional reentry program in Wilmington and Dover. On January 1, 2012, the Reverend Patricia Downing performed the rst civil union in Delaware and subsequently the rst wedding of same-sex persons in Delaware, the eleventh state to legalize it. In 2015, the Reverend Downing worked with Delaware’s U.S. senators and congressperson to establish Old Swedes Church and burial ground as part of the First State National Historic Park, one of six historic sites in Delaware. Learn more about it here: https://www.nps.gov/frst/index.htm. Trinity/Old Swedes celebrated recently with the slogan, “Three hundred and twenty- ve years of faith in the city.” We a rm that continuously -- in respecting our past and in living up to the tenets of Christ in our present and future! Latino History In 1994, a group of about eight Spanish-speaking worshippers were attending mass at Calvary Episcopal Church at Rodney and 4th streets in Wilmington, where Father Elias Penalosa held Sunday mass. One day Father Luis Léon from Trinity Parish came to visit and o er to have them attend Trinity, as Calvary was closing. Father Elias then held mass in the Trinity chapel. After some years, Fr. Elilas left, and Father Reuben Rodriguez was a part-time associate for about 4 years. During this time, the Latino worshipping group slowly grew and grew. After Father Reuben left, Father Juan George became Associate Rector and held mass in the main church area; he retired and was replaced by the next Associate Rector, Father Charles Cowen. During the Covid epidemic, Father Charles and the previous Rector, the Reverend Patricia Downing, were in charge of the Hispanic mass, which was conducted online. O ered now every Sunday at noon, our Latino community has since been growing more and more and averages about forty attendants per service.

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