Compline by Candlelight

Men and women of The Choir of Trinity Wall Street standing in St. Paul's Chapel, wearing all black, holding candles and singing.

Sundays, 7–7:30pm | St. Paul’s Chapel

Trinity Choir; 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 Trinity Choir 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, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast apps. Listen to the latest episodes below.

Compline by Candlelight art with a candle and the words, Compline: find some peace and choir

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.
Man in a black coat kneels in a dimly-lit St. Paul's Chapel to light a candle.

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.
People at Compline holding candles and service programs

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

243 results
MusicMarch 24, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

O vos omnes – Carlo Gesualdo
MusicMarch 17, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

Tenebrae factae sunt – Carlo Gesualdo
MusicMarch 3, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

Love Bade Me Welcome – David Hurd
MusicFebruary 25, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

Hear my prayer, O Lord – Henry Purcell
MusicFebruary 18, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

The Day is Done – Stephen Paulus
MusicFebruary 4, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Enjoy 30 minutes of improvised music by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street with this week's podcast, featuring:

Ave verum corpus – William Byrd

If ye love me – Thomas Tallis
MusicJanuary 21, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Tonight, hear The Choir Trinity Wall Street improvise: Bring me all your dreams – Christopher H. Harris

MusicJanuary 14, 2024

Compline by Candlelight

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Tonight, hear The Choir of Trinity Wall Street improvise: Tribus Miraculis by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
MusicJanuary 7, 2024

Compline by Candlelight: From the Archives

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Tonight, hear The Choir of Trinity Wall Street improvise William Byrd's Ave Maria.
MusicDecember 31, 2023

Compline by Candlelight: From the Archives

Compline by Candlelight provides peace and stillness as one week ends and another begins. Set in the tranquility of St. Paul’s Chapel. Tonight, hear The Choir of Trinity Wall Street improvise Josquin des Prez's Missa Pange Lingua (Kyrie and Agnus Dei)

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