Sundays; 8–8:30pm in St. Paul’s Chapel
The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Thomas McCargar, director
Compline means "completion" and is an ancient rite of prayers to end the day. Providing peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins, Trinity's 30-minute Compline service is unique in that all who enter are asked to simply hold a candle as the The Choir of Trinity Wall Street beautifully improvises these nighttime prayers in song.
Compline takes place in-person at historic St. Paul's Chapel (209 Broadway at Fulton Street), and reservations are not required. Compline audio podcasts are also released every Sunday on our website, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other podcast apps. Listen to the latest episodes below.
Compline Service Details
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. There’s nothing to do but listen, breathe, and be.
A Closer Look at Compline
In this video, choir member Jonathan Woody takes you inside Compline by Candlelight, a 30-minute Sunday evening service with improvised choral music.
Worship Services
Worship is at the center of life at Trinity Church Wall Street. Sunday services are held online and in person at Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel. Weekday services are held online and in person at Trinity Church. Whether you are a lifelong Episcopalian, from another faith tradition, exploring your faith, or just visiting, you are welcome to join us in worship.
Recent Recordings
Compline by Candlelight: Trinity Youth Chorus
March 19, 2023
Join the Trinity Youth Chorus, alongside the Trinity Baroque Orchestra, at a special Compline by Candlelight service, for a performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Pergolesi’s work is based on the Stabat Mater Dolorosa hymn, a powerful meditation on the suffering of Mary as Jesus Christ's mother during his crucifixion.
Compline by Candlelight
March 12, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s...
Special Compline by Candlelight: Downtown Voices
February 26, 2023
Kicking off the 2023 concert season, Trinity’s semi-professional choir, Downtown Voices, presented a special Compline by Candlelight with The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Stephen Sands, conductor. Following the theme of Mahatma Ghandi’s quote, “In the midst of darkness light persists,” during Lent our concerts will explore empathy for others’ suffering and the hope that Easter and Christ’s return bring. In featuring Caroline Shaw’s piece “To the Hands,” we will open our hands and hearts to others and seek healing together.
Caroline Shaw To The Hands
Downtown Voices; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Stephen Sands, conductor
Compline by Candlelight is an ancient rite of prayers to end the day, set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the oldest buildings in New York City. Can’t make it? Learn more about our Compline podcasts—a way to incorporate this centering ritual from wherever you are.
To watch on-demand, visit our music video portal.
Compline by Candlelight
February 12, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight
February 5, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight
January 22, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight
January 15, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight: From the Archives
January 8, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight: From the Archives
January 1, 2023
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, one of the...
Compline by Candlelight: Ceremony of Carols
December 25, 2022
Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel, guests find a seat and hold a candle, while 30 minutes of chant-based improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street fills the space. There’s nothing to do but listen, breathe, and be.
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