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.

WorshipNovember 14, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipOctober 24, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipOctober 10, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipOctober 3, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipSeptember 26, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

MusicSeptember 12, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

Set in the tranquility of Trinity Church, this reflective night service includes anthems and improvisations sung by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street. There’s nothing to do but listen, breathe, and be. At the start of this Compline by Candlelight service the 48-hour vigil at St. Paul’s Chapel will conclude, as the vigil candle is returned to Trinity Church via a procession on Broadway beginning at 7:45pm.

Anthems include:

Glenn L. Rudolph/Thomas Troeger – The Dream Isaiah Saw
Sarah McLachlan – Prayer of St. Francis
Allan Naplan – Al Shlosha D’Varim
Gerre Hancock – Deep River
Ethan McGrath – Malala’s Dream
J. S. Bach – Dona nobis pacem from Mass in B minor

Compline Service Bulletin, September 12, 2021

Trinity Church is now open for in-person worship for special services and on Sundays at 11:15am. You may also tune in online at 9:15am and 11:15am on Sundays and at 12:05pm Monday-Friday. Read more about the return to in-person worship here. Masks and social distancing will be required and capacity limits observed.

This service will be streamed live and available for on-demand viewing. If you miss the live stream, check back later; the on-demand video will be posted shortly. You may also watch on Facebook Live.

WorshipSeptember 5, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipAugust 29, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipAugust 22, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...

WorshipAugust 15, 2021

Compline by Candlelight

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...