The edifice, constructed of brick and Portland brownstone, was designed by David Russell Brown. (He worked with Henry Austin on the design of the New Haven City Hall in 1861.) Trinity’s building is considered by Elizabeth Mills Brown to be:

“New Haven’s most important church of the late 19th century.”

Its architectural significance was recognized by a landmark plaque from New Haven Preservation Trust in 1964.

*Reference: New Haven, A Guide to Architecture and Urban Design. Elizabeth Mills Brown, Yale: 1976. p. 115

The rose window, the unofficial symbol of the congregation, was installed when the church was built in 1870. The interior has been maintained in a handsome Victorian style.

A lavish stained glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany, which pictures Jesus and a young child, was installed in 1916. The triad of windows depiction was installed in 1928, near the end of the building’s first restoration.

The altar was erected in memory of Jacob and Margaretha Leyerzapf in 1918; it was restored in 1964, in memory of Otto and Elizabeth Pieper.

The baptismal font was created by Mme. Suzanne Silvercruys Farnam, noted sculptress. It was presented by the family of Rev. John A. Timm, under whose pastorate the church was purchased. The angel figures are portrait studies of Rev. Timm’s granddaughters, Renee and Jane.

The Organ is a three manual Cassavant (Canadian) with 37 stops; it is electric pneumatic. Installed in 1954, it incorporates two ranks from the organ purchased with the church in 1916.

The basement of Trinity holds a surprising feature – four bowling alleys! They are a great place for some fun and fellowship. Watch the video to the right to see one in action.

The historic Emerson building next to Trinity was New Haven’s very first apartment building. Built c1875, it was called the “Kensington Flat”, and appeared decades before apartments became popular in New Haven, Connecticut (in the 1920’s, after World War I)*. It was eventually purchased by Trinity Lutheran Church and now houses 5 floors of stylish apartments.