Join us!

Join us as we join God in the renewal of Washington Heights!

Who we are— United by a Vision of Gospel Renewal
Trinity Grace Church Washington Heights has been called into existence that we might join God  in his work of renewing one of New York City's most dense, diverse and yet under-resourced neighborhoods: Washington Heights. Our church is a community of neighbors united by a shared vision to  see personal and community renewal come to "The Heights" through the gospel proclaimed and demonstrated: in culturally appropriate worship and discipleship, justice-focused community engagement and development, and church planting. We are inviting you to join us in this great, exciting renewal project undertaken by God!

Where we live—Rich in Contrast and Culture
Located in far northern Manhattan, Washington Heights is well known for such prominent icons as the George Washington Bridge and Fort Tryon Park, and institutions such as Columbia University and the Cloisters museum. Unfortunately, "The Heights" also became well known in the '90's, less favorably so, as the seat of the crack-cocaine epidemic because of its proximity to the bridge and highway system that criss-crosses the neighborhood. But best and most of all, The Heights is lastingly known by its almost 200,000 resilient inhabitants of rich Latin (predominately of Dominican descent), Jewish and Anglo heritage. 

Our unique context—Feeling the Force of Gentrification 
Starting in the late 1990's a renaissance of sorts occurred, led by the community itself. As drug-related crime and violence evaporated, The Heights started  to be discovered by escapees of high rents in other parts of the City. Gentrification, as the phenomena is known, pressured  landlords to raise rents or convert buildings to condominium ownership, driving long-time residents into substandard living conditions.  As families lost their economic footing, so did schools and merchants. An underground economy developed belying the fact that The Heights, despite its vibrant beauty, is largely under-resourced. 

Our motivation—Reconciliation and Justice Through the Gospel
As Robert Putnam chronicled in his book "Crossing Broadway," at one time no other U.S. neighborhood had as clear a socio-economic divide as Washington Heights. To live East of Broadway was to consign a child to a second-rate education. That divide persists and a stroll up St. Nicholas Avenue from 181st Street— a block from where Trinity Grace Church Washington Heights meets Sundays at P.S. 132 Juan Pablo Duarte School— is to have one's eyes opened not only to the  colorful life of the community but the deep-seated pain of the community as well. It is to this neighborhood we have been called, and are planted.

From a biblical perspective, Washington Heights is fertile ground for the work of gospel reconciliation and social justice. While we believe nothing is more paramount than that a person coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ (and that that is the primary work of the Church), we no less believe that a single mother at risk of losing her apartment, a child that is destined to attain an 8th grade education at best, and a capable working man  unable to find work to feed his family is a priority of the Church living out the gospel. 

Our invitation— Join Us as We Join God
Planting and sustaining a church "on the margins", as we refer to it, is no easy or short-term calling, but God has graciously assembled a team of pastors and leaders who have "bought in" to the call, returned to their childhood neighborhood (as  lead pastor Robert Guerrero did) or relocated into the neighborhood as others have. No one would do that except by invitation— God' invitation. And as he's invited us, we're extending the invitation to you. Perhaps not to relocate into the neighborhood, but to invest in the vision of a renewed, flourishing Washington Heights. 

God has placed at our disposal affordable meeting facilities in the most desirable location in the neighborhood. He has opened up doors of relationship we couldn't force open, humanly speaking. He has brought committed believers  to us with incredible vision, passion, skills and talents around which he is forming a gospel-centered  community that witnesses to the transformative power of the gospel. He is giving the people of Washington Heights a foretaste of the  Kingdom he is ushering in. They are noticing  God is up to something— big. We want you to share in our work and our excitement. Won't you join us— now?