Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
| Cathedral of the Holy Trinity | |
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. The main façade hints at features of the elevation of the older wooden cathedral just visible behind it
|
|
| 36°51′35″S 174°47′01″E / 36.8596°S 174.7836°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Central churchmanship |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder(s) | Bishop John Simkin |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Consecrated | 28 October 2017 by Bishop Ross Bay |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Architectural type | Church |
| Years built | 1961 – 1965 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,250 parishioners |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cathedral of the Holy Trinity |
| Diocese | Auckland |
| Province | New Zealand |
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral located in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the main church for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. It is also the official seat of the Bishop of Auckland. The main church building we see today was officially opened in 1973.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Churches in Auckland
The first Anglican church in Auckland was St Paul's. It was started in 1841, just a year after Auckland was founded. This church is known as the 'mother church' of the city. The first St Paul's building was in Emily Place. A special plaque there still marks where the Christian church began in Auckland.
Bishop George Selwyn was the first Bishop of New Zealand. He used St Paul's as his main church for 28 years. It served as Auckland's cathedral for over 40 years.
As more European people moved to Auckland, there was pressure on Māori land. This caused some tension. Because of this, a second Anglican church, St Barnabas, was opened in 1849 just for Māori people. It was first located near the bottom of Parnell. Later, the small church building was moved to Mount Eden. It is still part of the St Barnabas' Parish Church today.
St Mary's Church and the New Cathedral
In 1860, the original St Mary's Church was built. Bishop Selwyn started the Parish of St Mary. This church was on the same spot where the current cathedral stands. However, it was too small and uncomfortable. As New Zealand's dioceses (church areas) grew, a bigger church was needed.
Old St Mary's Church was taken down. In 1886, work began on a new Cathedral Church of St Mary across the road. This church was made of wood and designed in the Gothic Revival style. A famous New Zealand architect named Benjamin Mountfort designed it. It was finished in 1897.
This wooden church was Auckland's main Anglican church until 1973. That's when the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) of the new Holy Trinity Cathedral started to be used. The foundation stone for the new cathedral was laid in 1957. In 1982, St Mary's Church was moved across Parnell Road. It now stands next to the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The Diocese of Auckland
Today, the Diocese of Auckland is one of seven dioceses in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. A diocese is like a church district. This diocese covers a large area. It stretches from North Cape down to the Waikato River. It also includes the Hauraki Plains and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Bishop George Selwyn was very important in starting the Anglican church in New Zealand. He arrived as Bishop of New Zealand in 1841. Back then, the whole colony was seen as one huge diocese. It even included large parts of the South Pacific. Bishop Selwyn worked hard to set up the church. Many small chapels, churches, schools, and a college for training priests were built during his time.
In 1856, Selwyn created New Zealand's first diocese, which was Christchurch. After a special church document was signed in 1857, other dioceses were quickly set up. These included Nelson and Waiapu in 1858, and Wellington in 1859.
In 1843, Bishop Selwyn bought land in Parnell. He planned for the cathedral to be built there. He also bought land for St Stephen's Chapel and other church buildings. He wrote in his diary that he had bought the land for the cathedral. He even mentioned the name for the cathedral in a sermon in England in 1841.
Bishop Selwyn returned to England in 1868. He chose William Cowie to take his place. Cowie was the first bishop to be called the Bishop of Auckland. So, some people think the Diocese of Auckland officially started in 1868, even though it's often said to be 1841.
During Bishop Cowie's 33 years as bishop, the church's administration was properly set up. Once the dioceses were firmly established, each with its own bishop, the building of New Zealand's cathedrals began.
The ChristChurch Cathedral was one of the first. It started in 1864 and was finished in 1881. In Auckland, there was a plan to build a cathedral for 1000 people. But by 1883, this plan was stopped because it was too expensive. Instead, they decided to replace the smaller St Mary's church in Parnell with a larger one. Work on this new church began in 1884. It was named a cathedral in 1887, even before it was fully finished.
By 1926, the Auckland diocese was very large and had many people. So, Bishop AW Averill divided the southern parts of the diocese. These areas, Waikato, King Country, and Taranaki, became the Diocese of Waikato.
The original Auckland cathedral was square. People wanted to make it into a cross shape, but no one could figure out how to design it safely. Later, an English carpenter named George Day found a way to do it.
Cathedral Buildings
St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church used to be the main cathedral for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. It replaced an even older church called Old St Mary's. This wooden church was designed in the Gothic Revival style. It was created by the famous Christchurch architect Benjamin Mountfort and finished in 1897.
St Mary's served as Auckland's main Anglican church until 1973. That's when the chancel of the new Holy Trinity Cathedral started to be used. In 1982, St Mary's Church was moved across Parnell Road. It now stands next to the main cathedral.
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Professor Richard Toy, a New Zealand architect, designed the main part of the new Holy Trinity Cathedral, called the nave. Building started in 1961 and was finished in 1965.
Toy designed a modern nave. He made sure it still matched the feel of the older chancel (the part of the church where the altar is). He combined two very different styles. The existing chancel was made of brick and concrete in a neo-Gothic style. The new nave has a modern design with lots of glass and a timber ceiling. The shape of the nave roof is similar to St Mary's Church next door.
The nave is square. This means it can be used for worship and also for community events. Large glass doors along two sides let in lots of light. They also make the roof look like it's floating without any visible support. This special effect is created by a unique roof system. This system was first used by architect Joseph Paxton for his Crystal Palace in 1852. This clever design makes the nave a huge, open space with great sound. It's perfect for concerts and other performances.
There is also a third worship area called the Marsden Chapel. It is named after Samuel Marsden. Glass doors and panels separate it from the rest of the cathedral. This small chapel is a quiet place for private prayer. It was inspired by small medieval churches in Europe. The chapel's decoration is very simple, which is different from the rest of the building. Five beautiful stained glass windows, designed by English artist John Baker, fit perfectly into the chapel.
The cathedral is famous for its modern stained glass windows. One unique window shows a Polynesian Christ with bright Pacific designs. Along the sides of the nave, there are eighteen windows. These were designed by Robert Ellis and Shane Cotton and finished in 2004. They tell the Christian story using both traditional and Polynesian art.
John Sinclair was the architect who supervised the building of the nave. He also designed the Monteith Visitors' Centre. This centre is attached to the cathedral and helps form the front courtyard.
The cathedral can hold 1250 people. The nave alone can seat up to 1100 people. The church is looked after by the Diocese of Auckland and its members. An organization called the Friends of Holy Trinity Cathedral Parnell also helps. They work to maintain and improve the cathedral's building. This group was started in 1986.
On October 28, 2017, the cathedral was officially opened by Bishop Ross Bay. Many bishops from New Zealand, Australia, and other places attended the service. About 1400 people were there.
Mountain Fountain Sculpture
In 2010, a sculpture called Mountain Fountain by Terry Stringer was moved to the front courtyard of Holy Trinity Cathedral. It used to be in Aotea Square from 1981 until 2008. A member of the cathedral council suggested the new spot. After talking with the artist and the public, it was chosen. The sculpture helps complete the original architect's idea of having artwork next to the cathedral. Mountain Fountain was officially dedicated in its new home on September 12, 2010.
Bishop Selwyn Chapel
The Bishop Selwyn Chapel was designed in 2017 by Fearon Hay Architects. This chapel was even nominated for an award at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin. It is located at the back of the cathedral property. It is used for smaller church services.
Deans of Holy Trinity
- 2017–present: Anne Mills
- 2010–2017: Jo Kelly-Moore
- 2007–2010: Ross Graham Bay
- 2000–2007: John Richard Randerson
- 1997–2000: Michael O'Connor
- 1991–1997: Geoff Hickman
- 1970–1991: John Oliver Rymer
- 1949–1969: George Rae Monteith
- 1946–1948: Sydney Gethin Caulton
Gallery
-
Flags of Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Diocese of Auckland, with the west window of the cathedral
-
The interior of St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland
-
The wooden three-sided altar tribune of St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland is reminiscent of a Romanesque European cathedral
-
The modern cathedral complex includes Mountfort's earlier wooden cathedral of 1886. The terminating gables served as an inspiration to the façade of the cathedral nave
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de la Santísima Trinidad (Auckland) para niños
