In addition to worship, the parish is actively involved in service to the community, pastoral care, programs for children and teenagers, and Christian education for all ages.

[3] After its former site on Summer Street burned in the Great Boston Fire of 1872, the current church complex was erected under the direction of Rector Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), one of the best-known and most charismatic preachers of his time.

The church and parish house were designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and construction took place from 1872 to 1877, when the complex was consecrated.

It is the birthplace and archetype of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, characterized by a clay roof, polychromy, rough stone, heavy arches, and a massive tower.

A traditional scene in Copley Square in December is that of a long line of people waiting to enter the church for the free event.

In addition to their primary function of supporting worship, the choirs of Trinity Church are fixtures in the rich musical landscape of Boston.

These include partnerships with Rosie's Place, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, Pine Street Inn, Habitat for Humanity, Community Servings, the Walk for Hunger, the Rodman Ride for Kids, and others.

The Trinity Boston Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support the social and emotional well-being and development of young people.

Formed in 2007, it grew out of several of Trinity Church's outreach ministries, and now functions as a separately incorporated subsidiary organization that directly serves approximately 500 young people in the Boston community.

The following are the Rectors of Trinity Church from its founding to the present day: The building's plan is a modified Greek Cross with four arms extending outwards from the central tower, which stands 64 m (211 ft) tall.

The central portal may have been modeled on that of Saint Trophîme at Arles,[12] Its interior murals, which cover over 21,500 square feet (2,000 m2) were completed entirely by American artists.

In 1985 Trinity Church was featured in the opening scene of the second television episode portraying novelist Robert B. Parker's character— Boston's preeminent detective, Spenser— in Spenser For Hire: "No Room at the Inn".