The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, at the corner of Cameron Street and George Street, is a historic place of worship.
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The original church was dedicated in 1842, and was built after St John’s Church couldn’t accommodate enough people.
The original building was designed by well-known convict architect, James Blackburn, and built by Joseph Moir to accommodate 500 people.
Parishioners requested no convict labour be used in the original church’s construction.
The original Holy Trinity Anglican Church was replaced after it became unsafe, destabilised by a 1884 earth tremor.
The striking new red-brick structure was built at a cost of 5700 pounds by J and T Gunn.
The new church was designed by renowned architect Alexander North, of Yorkshire, who was a Holy Trinity Anglican Church parishioner.
The stone work was completed by well-known Launceston father and son stone masons, Sylvanus and Ben Wilmot.
Financial issues caused construction to cease halfway, and consequently Holy Trinity Church’s west end was left half-finished.
The interminable construction process meant mosaic sectile panels, designed by Mr North, weren’t installed until 1950.
The opening service was held in 1902 at the new church, although it was technically not complete.
A narthex and the offices were added in 1986, and the glass doors and carpeting were installed in 2006.
There are many items and features of the church which hold historic significance.
The organ was transported from London on the Constance in 1854, and was then incorporated into a new replacement instrument in 1887.
Ornate stained-glass windows made in Melbourne illustrate biblical stories.
Holy Trinity Church Launceston, a History from 1838 author Jenny Gill said the church was originally designed by Mr North as a grand cathedral to reach the lawn’s edge.
Ms Gill said she believed visitors to the Holy Anglican Trinity Church were most impressed by its grandeur.
“It’s what people wanted to have built...it was the architect’s design, but they didn’t have to have it if they didn’t want it, or couldn’t imagine it was suitable for the glory of God,” she said.
She said the choir and the people made the church a lovely place to be.
“Although it hasn’t been finished, it still depicts the Anglo-Catholic style of things,” she said.
These days the federation-gothic style church is only open when someone is present or an something is underway.
