Rent Trinity Chapel for your ceremony
Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Wheaton, Trinity Chapel at 130 N. West Street provides a unique and unforgettable venue for your wedding day. As the oldest church building in Wheaton still in active use today, Trinity Chapel has been a beloved landmark since its consecration in 1882. Its significance is nationally recognized, with inclusion in the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
The chapel can comfortably accommodate up to 140 guests in its air-conditioned interior, which is adorned with striking stained-glass windows and an altar flanked by chancel chairs that originate from a 19th-century church in Chicago. The beauty of the chapel is further enhanced by its refinished pews, the warm tones of its wood interior walls, and the timeless appeal of its classic wood frame façade, all contributing to the venue’s antique allure. Trinity Chapel is not only a venue but a picturesque setting that ensures every photograph captures a moment of timeless elegance. Couples will be enamored by the chapel’s magnificent backdrop, creating memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.
This was a gift from Mr. And Mrs. Fred Ockerland in 1975. A figure of the first rector, The Rev. Frank Hobart Millett, represents all the priests who have served Trinity. Also featured are The Right Rev. James W. Montgomery, Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and The Right Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr., Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago. The Most Reverend Arthur Michael Ramsey, the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury is shown holding his crozier or staff in the lower right hand corner of the window. Archbishop Ramsey came to Trinity during the centennial celebration.
The Centennial Window not only commemorated the 100th year of the chapel, but it also was given in celebration of the Ockerlund’s own wedding anniversary. They had been married in the chapel 25 years earlier. The window was designed by Karl Hackert Studios in Northbrook, Illinois and was made in Innsbruck, Austria.
This window is dedicated to the memory of the father of Mrs. J.S. Peironnet. In addition to the Easter lilies which are a symbol of Christ’s resurrection, this window features a triangle encompassing an eye. The eye is suggestive of the omniscience of God – His “all seeing” power.
Fannie Peironnet’s father, William Baker, was the publisher of the Journal of Commerce and the proprietor of the successful mercantile company Tappan & McKillop. He died in Chicago in 1886.
This was a gift from the Drummond family. Featuring a beautiful angel, this window was pronounced by its contemporary critics as wonderfully artistic in design and creation. The window is constructed in a style made famous by the Tiffany studio in New York , incorporating art nouveau influences popular at the turn of the century. The opalescent glass in shades of brown and ochre compliment the tones of the wood walls and accents throughout the chapel.
The window was designed by a well respected local artist, Christia M. Reade of Lombard. A talented artist in several media, Reade was known for carrying her stained glass work through from design to installation. After studying in Europe, she returned to Chicago to open a studio where she produced exquisite jewelry, watercolors and stained glass. With an eye for detail and color, the beautiful Drummond window is considered one of the better known windows that she produced. This window was placed around 1900.
This window is a group of three lancet windows behind the altar. The chancel window was a gift of Mrs. James S. (Fannie) Peironnet, depicting the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. The wheat and grape motifs represent the bread and wine of The Eucharist. The symbols of Alpha and Omega represent the Beginning and the End.
The Peironnets were early members of the Trinity mission church. Mr. Peironnet was a prosperous lumberman in Peru, IL before he came to the Chicago area to begin an investment firm, J. S. Peironnet & Co., which became a well respected member of the Chicago Board of Trade. James Peironnet served as the second mayor of Wheaton from 1893-98 and again in 1901-04. Two great grandchildren of James Peironnet are current members of Trinity: Mrs. Peter (Lois Rathje) Boecker and Justice S. Louis Rathje.