Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley |
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Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley, 2007
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| Location | 141 Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1876–1877, 1920–1921, 1925, 1929 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: Holy Trinity Church | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600202 |
| Significant period | 1876–1877, 1920–1921, 1925, 1929, 1956 (fabric) |
| Significant components | furniture/fittings, memorial – wall, stained glass window/s, gallery, pipe organ |
| Builders | James Robinson |
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Holy Trinity Church is a historic Anglican church located at 141 Brookes Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a very old and important building. The church was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built by James Robinson. Construction took place from 1876 to 1877. Over the years, parts of the church were updated in 1920–1921, 1925, and 1929. Because of its history and special design, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The Holy Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley started being built in 1876 and was finished in 1877. It was the second Anglican church on this exact spot. It was also the third Anglican church built in the Fortitude Valley area.
Fortitude Valley's Growth
Fortitude Valley began to grow in 1849. By 1856, the first church leader, Reverend E.K. Yeatman, was appointed. The church's area, called a parish, was very large. It included places like Sandgate, New Farm, and Bowen Hills.
At that time, the main church, St Johns, was hard for people to reach. There were no easy roads like Ann Street yet. Because the community was growing, St Johns became too small. So, a new church was set up in a rented house. This house was at the corner of Ann and Ballow Streets. Church services were held there on Sundays, and a school ran during the week.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1857, the church received a gift of two acres of land. This land was given by the government of New South Wales. (Remember, Queensland became a separate state later, in 1859). This is the same land where the Holy Trinity Church stands today.
The first building on this new land was a temporary church. It cost about £495 to build. People described it as a "long, plain building of rough stone." Later, it was made bigger for an extra £300.
Building the Rectory
A rectory is a house where the church's leader, or rector, lives. The first rectory for Holy Trinity Church was built in 1861. It cost £650 and was for Reverend John Mosely. It was located on Leichhardt Street.
Planning the New Church
In 1875, Reverend James Love became the new rector. It was clear that a bigger, new church was needed. The old temporary church was no longer big enough. Church leaders, including John Bramston and the Attorney General, started raising money.
The famous architect Francis Drummond Greville Stanley was chosen to design the new church. At the time, he was also the official Queensland Colonial Architect. However, Holy Trinity Church was one of his many private projects.
Stanley first drew plans for a stone church. But building with stone was too expensive. So, he made new plans for a smaller building. This new design allowed for either stone or brick. It also gave options for adding a chancel (the area around the altar) later.
Stanley designed other churches that looked similar to Holy Trinity. Examples include St Pauls Anglican Church, Maryborough and the Holy Trinity Church, Mackay.
Construction and Changes
The first stone of the new Holy Trinity Church was laid on 29 April 1876. The church officially opened on 21 July 1877. It was built without a chancel at first. The builder was James Robinson, and it cost around £3000.
New Rectory and Hall
The old rectory was too far from the new church. So, it was sold in 1891. A new rectory was built right next to the church. This new house was also designed by F.D.G. Stanley and built by James Robinson.
In January 1892, the old church building, which was being used as a school, was taken down. A new building was put up in its place to be used as a church hall. This hall was designed by another architect, John Hingeston Buckeridge.
Adding the Chancel
In 1919, Reverend Samuel Watkin visited another church to see its chancel. After his visit, the church decided to add a new chancel to Holy Trinity.
An architect named Mr. Addison helped with the plans. This was likely either George Henry Male Addison or his son George Frederick Addison. The new chancel and sanctuary (the area around the altar) were officially opened on 4 September 1921.
Updating the Windows
In 1925, the church received money to change the clerestory windows. These are the windows high up on the church walls. Mr. Addison helped again, presenting several designs. One design was chosen, and the new windows were dedicated on 14 June 1925. The donor believed the new design would "remove an ugly blot and substitute a thing of beauty."
Final Major Addition
The last big addition to the church was the new reredos (a screen or decoration behind the altar). It was dedicated on 10 November 1929. This beautiful piece was designed by Lange Leopold Powell and carved by Andrew Lang Petrie.
Since then, the church and its grounds have mostly stayed the same. A brick wall was added in 1956 to remember those who died in World War II.
What the Church Looks Like
Holy Trinity Church is a large building made of brick and stone. It stands on a site surrounded by Church, Wickham, and Brookes Streets in Fortitude Valley. The church area also includes the Holy Trinity Parish Hall and the Holy Trinity Rectory. Both of these are also considered historic.
Outside the Church
The church has a main central area called a nave with high windows (a clerestory). On either side of the nave are aisles. In the middle, there are transepts, which are like arms extending from the main body of the church.
The church sits on a stone base. Most of it is built with dark bricks. The areas around the windows, decorative bands (string courses), and top edges (copings) are finished with cement. The roof is made of metal, replacing the original slate tiles. It has decorative cast iron along the top. A stone cross sits on the peak of each gable (the triangular part of the wall under the roof).
The front of the church, facing south, has two Gothic arched doors in the middle. Above the doors is a beautiful stained glass window. The sides of the church, facing east and west, look similar. They each have transepts and groups of three tall, narrow lancet windows with stained glass. These windows are surrounded by lighter brickwork. The colors of the stained glass are different on each side.
The back of the church, facing north, was added in 1921. This part holds the chancel and vestry (a room for the clergy). It was always planned to be built as the church community grew. This section matches the style and materials of the older parts of the church. It features a large stained glass window above the reredos inside.
Inside the Church
Inside, the walls are smooth and scored to look like stone in some places. The floor is concrete with decorative encaustic tiles (tiles with patterns baked into them) near the entrance.
To the right of the entrance, a curved staircase leads up to the gallery. This area has seating and an old organ. The seats are made of cedar and pine.
The main part of the church, the nave, has six cast iron pillars on each side. These pillars are designed to look like the clustered pillars found in very old English churches. They are connected by cast iron arches with decorative patterns.
The roof inside the church is made of timber boards laid diagonally. All the timber, including the pews (church benches), is either natural teak wood or stained to look like teak. Many original church furnishings are still used today.
A tall, pointed arch separates the nave from the chancel. This area is dominated by the altar and the reredos, which is carved from Yangan freestone. The sanctuary area is marked by carved timber altar rails.
In front of the chancel are the lectern and pulpit. The pulpit is also carved from freestone with pink marble details. The lectern is made of brass and shaped like an eagle with its wings spread out.
Why Holy Trinity Church is Special
Holy Trinity Church was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is recognized as an important historical place for several reasons.
Showing Queensland's History
The church shows how quickly the Anglican community grew in Fortitude Valley. It also shows how it grew in nearby areas.
A Great Example of Design
The building is a good example of Early English Gothic architecture from the mid-Victorian period. It also shows the church designs of the famous Brisbane architect F.D.G. Stanley. Many parts of the church are still original. This includes its layout, the gallery and organ, the wooden details, and the stained glass windows.
Beautiful to Look At
Holy Trinity Church is a large and important building in a noticeable spot. It has significant aesthetic value, meaning it is considered very beautiful.
Smart Building Techniques
The church's design used new and clever building methods for its time. These include the cement flooring and the use of cast iron columns in the nave.
Important to the Community
Just seven years after the first settlers arrived in Fortitude Valley, there was a need for a new church. Since then, Holy Trinity Church has been very important to the Anglican community. It also holds many special items that are valued by the church members.
See also
Images for kids
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Holy Trinity Church, 1886
