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Holy Trinity Church has a long and interesting
history. Designed in the Gothic style, it is an
excellent example of the work of the convict architect
James Blackburn, who designed many Tasmanian churches.
The Governor, Sir John Franklin, who later lost
his life in an unsuccessful attempt to find the
North-West Passage through the Arctic, laid the
foundation stone in October 1841. The freestone
from which the Church is built was obtained from
the Domain quarry near Government House and was
donated by the colonial government. Funds for
the building of the Church were subscribed by
the people of Hobart Town and other parts of Van
Dieman's Land (now Tasmania), and by donors in
England including the Dowager Queen Adelaide.
The Church was completed in 1847, services commenced
in 1848 and it was consecrated on 27th December
1849.
Holy Trinity Parish is older than this Church,
and dates back to 1833. The first Holy Trinity
Church was opened for worship in 1833 and was
situated at the corner of Brisbane and Campbell
Streets, Hobart. Later it became the Criminal
Court-house.
Holy Trinity Church has a commanding view over
the city of Hobart. From Trinity Hill, the bells
of the Church have rung out to mark many great
occasions, both sad and joyful, in the life of
the city and State. The peal of bells, which is
the oldest in the southern hemisphere, was first
rung on 1st December 1847 to usher in Regatta
Day (an aquatic holiday for the people of Hobart
Town instituted by Sir John Franklin). Since then
it has been a tradition to ring the bells on each
Regatta Day.
Holy Trinity Church is rich in memorials, one
of the most outstanding of which is the War Memorial
Window at the east end of the building, designed
by Mr L. Dechaineux, then Principal of the Hobart
Technical College. This window commemorates those
parishioners who lost their lives in World War
One and was dedicated in 1922. Other stained glass
windows in the Church are fine examples of the
craftsman's art. They are chiefly windows in memory
of former Rectors and parishioners.
The chapel, known as the Blackwood Chapel, is
a memorial to the dedicated work in the Parish
of a former Rector, Archdeacon Blackwood, who
later became Bishop of Gippsland.
Holy Trinity Church is fortunate in having an
organ of rich musical tones. The present organ
incorporates the original organ of 1850, enlarged
and improved in 1900, and remodelled in 1935.
Electric action was installed in 1968. Also in
1968, the console was moved to its present position
on the south side of the Chancel. At that time
there was sufficient finance to complete only
two of the organ's three manuals. A modest renovation
was recently completed.
Over the years, a considerable amount of restoration
work has been done to the interior and exterior
of Holy Trinity Church. Refacing the exterior
of the Church is a continuous, vital and costly
process. Work has recently been completed to restore
the window sills and improve window security.
The Church is classified "A" by the National Trust
(to be preserved at all costs) and is listed on
the Register of the National Estate. We are grateful
for this recognition of the Church as part of
the architectural heritage of the State and nation.
Some items of furniture in the chancel of the
Church are memorials and fine examples of the
craftsman's art. They include the Rector's stall
which is made of blackwood, handsomely carved
with a threefold arrangement of Glastonbury thorns
and berries.
Even more important than this material heritage
is the contribution to the spiritual life of the
community made by Holy Trinity Church in the past
and present and, with God's continued help, in
the future.
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