Located on the Trinity College campus in Hartford, Connecticut, the Trinity College Chapel is a magnificent 1932 Gothic Revival church designed by Philip H. Frohman, the architect behind the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. As you explore this striking masonry structure, you will admire its 165-foot tower housing a 30-bell carillon and roof supported by carved wooden trusses with no steel or concrete beams.
Step inside to discover a main altar crafted from cream-colored Texas limestone, embedded with a tiny fragment of worked stone from Israel's Temple Mount, along with an impressive 8,000-pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ. Take time to examine the unique stones woven into the building's fabric, including historic pieces from the Great Wall of China, Mt. Sinai, and a dungeon that once held Joan of Arc.
Look closely at the exterior lintels to spot carvings of the very workmen who constructed the church, and enjoy the rich stained glasswork featured throughout the main nave and the neighboring Friendship Chapel. Offering a remarkable mix of English Gothic exterior design and interior Normanesque touches, it is a fascinating stop for architectural history fans.
What to see at Trinity College Chapel, Hartford
- Designed by Philip H. Frohman, architect of the National Cathedral
- Features embedded historic stones from Mt. Sinai, Joan of Arc's dungeon, and the Great Wall of China
- Home to an 8,000-pipe French-style Aeolian-Skinner organ
- Carved stone lintels depicting the church's construction workers and studying monks
- 165-foot tall tower featuring a carillon of 30 English-made bells
Visiting tips
Look closely at the lintels above the exterior doorways to spot intricate stone carvings depicting the actual workmen who built the chapel.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Trinity College Chapel, Hartford is easy to reach on Hartford’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Hartford travel guide.
See the full Hartford travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.