Bishop Gates at Trinity, Concord
Trinity Church in Concord opened its new parish house on the church’s 130th anniversary, May 31. Bishop Alan M. Gates joined the parish for the anniversary celebration and to dedicate the new parish house.
The Rev. Tony Buquor has served as Trinity’s rector across the 10 years of master planning and preparation for this $6-million investment. “The hospitality and ministry spaces were designed to minimize burden to the environment and to better meet the needs of our members and the community. Now in our 130th year as a parish, this new parish house is a sign of our congregation’s commitment to future ministries into which God may lead us,” Buquor said in a news release from the parish.
Currently, Trinity Church in Concord supports nearly 75 ministries that will move into the new building in late June.
The high-efficiency parish house adheres to all of Trinity’s environmental initiatives in a design that honors its residential setting, according to the release. Architect Robert Taylor said: “The main gesture is the copying the chapel volume but rendered in crisp wood and big windows in contrast to the old stone chapel. The low profile of the structure fits with the neighborhood, and wood details and stains will merge with Trinity's old stone colors.”
According to the news release, Trinity has significantly reduced its carbon footprint across all its buildings: 1885 chapel, 1963 main church and 2015 parish house. Natural gas installation throughout the physical plant, electrical and sprinkler upgrades to both sanctuaries, and interior renovations of existing church school, adult education and forum spaces align with the church’s sustainability initiatives. All renovations to the existing buildings will be completed during the summer and will be ready for start of the fall program year. The parish will open the renovated campus to the wider community in the fall.