5 Questions for Trinity’s New Head Sacristan

Emily Smith steps into a unique role that’s been a lifetime in the making.

Sacristans are the first to arrive and the last to leave on Sundays at Trinity; that level of commitment is part of the job. If you think of a church service like a play or an opera — with set pieces and props, choreography, and music — a sacristan is like a stage manager. From making sure the sidewalk out front is tidy to setting up for communion, sacristans put everything in place for the day. Then they assist throughout the service, making sure the liturgy flows smoothly. Amid the logistical complexity, the goal is clear: to help people experience God’s love in the transcendent beauty of worship.

Emily has been preparing for this role her whole life. She grew up in the Lutheran church, finding community in youth group and camp, then she served in the sacristy of her college’s chapel at Valparaiso University. Later she was named the sacristan of St. John’s Cathedral in Denver, the house of prayer for the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. Emily came to Trinity in 2022, when she joined the team as assistant head sacristan. 

We spoke with Emily about her work and what she loves about worshiping with the Trinity community. 

Congratulations on your new role, Emily! What are you looking forward to in this season?

I’m looking forward to all the ways I will learn and grow with my team and our parish community! From practical managerial skills, to working more closely with other departments at Trinity, to coordinating with external vendors and contractors on larger projects that impact our worship, there are many moving parts behind the scenes of liturgy and worship at Trinity. It is very exciting for me to play a role in projects that help bring beauty and meaning to our worship spaces. 

What’s your favorite moment during worship?

Can I give you two favorites? This question is like asking a movie buff what their favorite film is — hard to just give one! 

Number one is the censing of the gifts. After the altar is set for communion, the choir improvises a chant: “Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as incense.” While they’re singing, the thurifer (the worship leader who handles the incense) brings the thurible (that’s what holds the incense) to the celebrant (the priest presiding over the Eucharist) who censes the bread and wine. Then the celebrant passes the thurible back to the thurifer who censes the altar party and congregation. I love incense, and I think this moment in the service is so beautiful.

And number two: As the choir files out singing the closing hymn, a sacristan waits in the chancel doorway for the postlude to begin before extinguishing the altar candles. That moment when the choir is singing, the procession starts, and the whole congregation turns to face the back of the church is quite special to witness from a fairly hidden doorway. The people have come together to listen, pray, sing, and learn, and then everyone moves to leave — reentering the city renewed.

Tell us one thing about church services that might surprise people.

At Trinity, every aspect of the service is outlined in the printed bulletin worshipers receive when they walk in the door (or join online), so people know exactly what to expect.

But I think the sheer number of people who make Sunday services and events happen is astonishing. There are clergy, sacristans, and volunteers, plus staff from nearly every team at Trinity, working out front and behind the scenes. And beyond that, there are craftspeople, including a florist, a woodworker, and a glass artist, working on the very tangible aspects of worship.

What do you love about the Trinity parish?

There are people from all walks of life and across the globe here. That not only speaks to the beauty of New York City, it reflects the image of God and makes our liturgies richer.

What are you up to when you’re not at church? Describe your ideal day in the city.

It’s 70 degrees and sunny. I’m getting a bagel for breakfast and taking the train to Central Park. There, I’m meeting friends for a walk, eating snacks on a blanket, playing with a Frisbee, reading a book, or doing a craft. In the evening, I’m going home to cook a yummy meal and watch a rom-com with my cat on the couch.

Join us Sundays and throughout the week to experience worship at Trinity Church.