Episcopal bishop to lead Wheaton parish’s 130th anniversary service

The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will lead the closing service of the 130th anniversary celebration of Wheaton’s Trinity Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. July 1.

In addition to the presiding bishop, The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, bishop of the Diocese of Chicago, will also take part in the special service, in which the church’s chapel, ceremoniously consecrated on June 30, 1882, will be rededicated.

The original chapel on Trinity’s campus is believed to be the oldest church structure operating on a continuous basis in DuPage County.

“This will be a tremendous honor for the parishioners of Trinity to host this service and have both the presiding bishop and the bishop of the Chicago Diocese here to lead the event,” said The Rev. Canon Linda Potter, Trinity Episcopal rector.

“This is also a rare opportunity for our fellow Episcopal churches in the region and deanery to join us in celebration and prayer on such a joyous occasion.”

Jefferts Schori serves as chief pastor, ecumenical officer and primate to the Episcopal Church’s 2.4 million members in 16 countries and 110 dioceses. She is currently serving a nine-year term after being elected presiding bishop in June 2006.

Trinity’s 130-year-old chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Wheaton Episcopal Church has planned four days of events to mark the anniversary, beginning June 28 and culminating with the Sunday morning service.

Highlighting the events are a choral evensong, a prayer breakfast, a high English tea, an alumni reunion cocktail party for former and current members of the congregation, chapel tours, and a picnic after the rededication service.

A schedule of the 130th anniversary celebration events can be found on the church’s website, www.trinitywheaton.org.

For more information about the 130th anniversary events, contact Rev. Canon Linda Potter at (630) 665-1101.