View source for Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland

{{Short description|Anglican place of worship in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox church
| name             = Holy Trinity Cathedral
| fullname         = Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
| image            = Anglican Cathedral, Parnell.JPG
| image_size       = 250
| alt              = 
| caption          = Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. The main [[façade]] hints at features of the elevation of the older wooden cathedral just visible behind it
| coordinates      = {{coord|-36.8596|174.7836|display=title,inline|format=dms_region:NZ_type:landmark}}
| country          = New Zealand
| denomination     = [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|Anglican]]
| churchmanship    = [[Broad church]]
| membership       = 
| attendance       = 
| address          = [[Parnell, New Zealand|Parnell]], [[Auckland]]
| website          = {{URL|http://www.holy-trinity.org.nz}}
| status           = [[Cathedral]]
| functional status = Active
| founded date     = 1957<!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} - but see note below -->
| founder          = Bishop [[John Simkin]]
| dedication       = [[Holy Trinity]]
| dedicated date   = 
| consecrated date = 28 October 2017<br/>by Bishop [[Ross Bay]]
| architect        = {{ubl|Richard Toy|John Sinclair}}
| architectural type = [[Church architecture|Church]]
| style            = 
| years built      = 1961{{spaced endash}}1965
| groundbreaking   = 
| completed date   = 
| construction cost = 
| closed date      = 
| demolished date  = 
| capacity         = 1,250 parishioners
| length           = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| length nave      = 
| length choir     = 
| width            = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| width nave       = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| width transepts  = 
| height           = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| height nave      = 
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| floor count      = 
| floor area       = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
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| materials        = 
| parish           = Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
| archdiocese      = 
| diocese          = [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland|Auckland]]
| province         = New Zealand
| priestincharge   = 
| archbishop       = [[Justin Duckworth]]
| bishop           = [[Ross Bay]]
| priest           = 
| minister         = 
| seniorpastor     = 
| pastor           = 
| chaplain         = 
| archdeacon       = 
| director         = Peter Watts
| organist         = Philip Smith
| dean             = Anne Mills
| precentor        = Ivica Gregurec
}}
'''Holy Trinity Cathedral''' is an [[Anglican]] [[cathedral]] situated in [[Parnell, New Zealand|Parnell]], a residential suburb of [[Auckland]], New Zealand. It is the '[[mother church]]' of the [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland]] and the [[cathedra|seat]] of the [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland#List of bishops|Bishop of Auckland]]. The current main church building was [[consecrated]] in 1973.

==History==
=== St Paul's Church ===
The first Anglican [[Church (congregation)|parish]] in Auckland was located in [[St Paul's Church, Auckland|St Paul's]], which was founded in 1841, within a year of the foundation of the city, and is known as the 'mother church' of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search the List {{!}} St Paul's Church (Anglican) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/650 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=heritage.org.nz}}</ref> The first St Paul's building was in Emily Place, just off Princes Street, where a plaque still marks the site of the beginning of the [[Christian church]] in Auckland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search the List {{!}} Churton Memorial {{!}} Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/563 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=heritage.org.nz}}</ref> St Paul's was the seat of the [[Archbishop of New Zealand|Bishop of New Zealand]], the [[George Selwyn (bishop of Lichfield)|Right Reverend George Selwyn]], for his entire 28-year tenure and served as Auckland's cathedral for over 40 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kate |first=Hannah |title=Where we've come from. |url=https://stpaulschurch.smugmug.com/SPAM/n-GmBLKc/St-Pauls-History-2009 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=stpaulschurch.smugmug.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://aucklandanglican.org.nz/who-we-are/our-history/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Anglican Diocese of Auckland |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Simeon |date=2020 |title=King, Bishop, Knight, Pioneer: the Social and Architectural Significance of Old St Paul’s Church, Emily Place, Auckland. 1841-1885 |url=https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/2292/52520/whole.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2-X_9f1wzyBULIhCbB5bXwK8I1y1OpBYFysCe4O_fbDHF1dfaClALoOCk |access-date=20 August 2022 |website=University of Auckland Research Repository, ResearchSpace}}</ref>

=== St Barnabas' Parish Church ===
The increasing European population of Auckland put pressure on [[Māori people|Māori]] land and society, straining relations, leading to the city's second Anglican church, St Barnabas, being opened in 1849 specifically for Māori.<ref name=":0" /> It was situated near the bottom of Parnell, on land that was later demolished and used for reclamation work. The small church building was shifted to [[Mount Eden]], where it still forms part of the St Barnabas' Parish Church.

=== Cathedral Church of St Mary ===
With the building of the original St Mary's Church in 1860, Bishop Selwyn established the Parish of St Mary. Old St Mary's stood on the site of the present cathedral, but proved to be too small, badly ventilated and uncomfortable. The establishment of New Zealand's dioceses, and Auckland's fast-growing population, meant that a larger church was required. Old St Mary's Church was demolished, and in 1886 work started on land opposite to build a new [[St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland|Cathedral Church of St Mary]]. This wooden [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] church was designed by the prominent New Zealand architect [[Benjamin Mountfort]] and completed in 1897. The building served as the cathedral church and principal Anglican church in Auckland until 1973 when the chancel of Holy Trinity Cathedral, for which the foundation stone was laid in 1957, came into use. In 1982, St Mary's Church was moved across Parnell Road to its present site beside the cathedral.

The celebrated [[harpsichordist]], [[organist]], and conductor [[Anthony Jennings (musician)|Anthony Jennings]] was music director at the cathedral from 1974 through 1985; during which time several recordings were made of the cathedral's choir.<ref name="Grove">{{Cite Grove |author=Thomson, J. M. |title=Jennings, Anthony |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42592 |date=20 January 2001}}</ref>

==Diocese and cathedral==
Today the [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland|Diocese of Auckland]] is one of seven dioceses of the [[Tikanga Māori|Tikanga]] [[Pākehā]] (Pākehā culture) stream of the [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia]]. The [[diocese]] covers the area stretching from [[North Cape, New Zealand|North Cape]] south to the [[Waikato River]], across the [[Hauraki Plains]] and including the [[Coromandel Peninsula]].

The Anglican church in New Zealand, today known as the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, was pioneered by Bishop George Selwyn who arrived as Bishop of New Zealand in 1841.

In those early days the then colony was regarded as one huge diocese which, including large areas of the South Pacific, covered almost one sixth of the Earth's surface. Selwyn did much to establish the church and many small chapels, churches, schools and a theological college were built during this period. In 1856 Selwyn created New Zealand's first diocese, Christchurch.

Following the adoption of the Constitution of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, which was signed in [[St Stephen's Chapel, Auckland|St Stephen's Chapel]], Judges Bay, Auckland, on 13 June 1857,<ref name="NZHPT 22">{{NZHPT|22|St Stephen's Chapel|12 March 2016}}</ref> other dioceses were soon established: Nelson and [[Diocese of Waiapu|Waiapu]] in 1858, and Wellington in 1859. Following the creation of the dioceses Selwyn became ''ipso facto'' the Bishop of Auckland (though never formally styled as such), while retaining the primacy and continuing as the metropolitan. In diaries kept by his contemporary, Attorney-General William Swainson, Auckland was at that time expected to be the permanent seat of the Metropolitan of New Zealand. 
[[Image:St Stephens Chapel Auckland.jpg|thumb|right|[[St Stephen's Chapel, Auckland]]]]
In 1843 Selwyn purchased land in Parnell for the cathedral, as well as for St Stephen's Chapel, Bishopscourt, and associated buildings. He wrote in his diary on 3 June 1843 "... I reached the Judge's House [Judge Martin; First Attorney-General] by a path, avoiding the town, and passed over land which I have bought for the site of the Cathedral ... ". He is reputed to have included the intended name for the cathedral in a sermon at Lichfield Cathedral in 1841 after his consecration.

Selwyn returned to England in 1868 having selected [[William Cowie (bishop)|William Cowie]] as his successor. Cowie was the first bishop to be known as Bishop of Auckland, and it may be considered that this was the year of the formation of the Diocese of Auckland, though it is generally said to be 1841. The Diocese of Dunedin, formerly part of the Christchurch Diocese, was created in 1869.

During Bishop Cowie's 33-year tenure, the last nine as primate, the diocesan administration was set up in the traditional Anglican understanding of the term. When the dioceses were firmly established, each with its bishop, the building of New Zealand's cathedrals began.

[[ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch|ChristChurch Cathedral]]<!-- the camel C is deliberate --> was one of the first: begun in 1864, it was finally consecrated in 1881. It had been intended to build a cathedral seating 1000 people in Auckland but by 1883 the plan was abandoned because of cost. Instead, a decision was made to replace the existing small church of St Mary's in Parnell with a larger church, and in 1884 work began. The new church was designated a cathedral in 1887 while uncompleted, and a cathedral chapter of [[cleric]]al [[Canon (priest)|canons]] and [[Laity|lay]] members was formed in 1893 while the new cathedral was in use but still awaiting completion.

By 1926 the Auckland diocese was very large and becoming densely populated, so The Most Revd AW Averill, Bishop of Auckland and Archbishop of New Zealand, divided off the southern regions of [[Waikato]], [[King Country]] and [[Taranaki]] to form the [[Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki|Diocese of Waikato]].


==Buildings ==
===St Mary's Church===
{{main|St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland}}
St Mary's Church is the former cathedral church of the [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland]]. It replaced the earlier Old St Mary's. This wooden [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] church was designed by the prominent [[Christchurch]] architect [[Benjamin Mountfort]] and completed in 1897.<ref>{{DNZB|Lochhead|Ian J|1m57|Mountfort, Benjamin Woolfield – Biography|9 June 2012}}</ref> The building served as the cathedral church and principal Anglican church of Auckland until 1973 when the chancel of Holy Trinity Cathedral, for which the foundation stone was laid in 1957, came into use. In 1982, St Mary's Church was moved across Parnell Road to its present site beside the cathedral.<ref>{{NZHPT|21||accessdate=9 June 2012}}</ref>

===Cathedral of the Holy Trinity===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Seats and Great Window from behind nave altar, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.jpg|thumb|250px|View of the nave and the Great Window]]
The nave of the new cathedral dedicated to "The Holy Trinity" was designed by Professor Richard Toy, a New Zealand architect. Building commenced in 1961 and was completed in 1965.

Toy designed a modern nave while retaining the ambience and architectural values of the older chancel. He combined two very different architectural styles, incorporating the existing brick & reinforced concrete neo-Gothic [[chancel]], with the new [[nave]], a contemporary design which has large areas of glass and a timber ceiling. The line of the nave roof reflects that of St Mary's Church which stands beside it.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Cathedral Nave {{!}} Holy Trinity Cathedral |url=https://www.holy-trinity.org.nz/copy-of-artist-in-residence-1 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Holy Trinity Cathedr |language=en}}</ref>

The nave is square in plan enabling the space to be used not only as a place of worship but also as a site for local community functions. Glass doors the length of two sides light the vast space and accentuate the seemingly unsupported roof with its absence of visible structural support. This surreal effect is made possible by a ridge and furrow roof system, a refinement of that first invented by the architect [[Joseph Paxton]] for his [[The Crystal Palace|Crystal Palace]] in 1852. The vast uncluttered space and fine [[acoustics]] realised by this ingenious construction allow multi-purpose use of the nave, including concerts and other performances.

A third area of worship – the Marsden Chapel named after [[Samuel Marsden]], separated from the body of the cathedral by glass doors and panels – provides an intimate space for private devotions. The inspiration for this small chapel was the small medieval churches of Europe. The decoration in this part of the cathedral is very simple in direct contrast to the rest of the building. A set of five stained glass windows designed by prominent English artist John Baker fit perfectly into the chapel.

The supervising architect for the building of the nave was John Sinclair, former president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, who also designed the Monteith Visitors' Centre which is attached to the north-east corner of the cathedral and forms an eastern boundary to the cathedral forecourt.

The cathedral can accommodate 1250 people, the nave having a maximum seating capacity of 1100. The church is maintained by the Diocese of Auckland and parishioners. They are assisted by the ''Friends of Holy Trinity Cathedral Parnell'', an organisation particularly involved in the maintenance and beautification of the cathedral's [[Textile|fabric]]. The organisation was established in 1986.

At a service on 28 October 2017 the cathedral was consecrated by Bishop [[Ross Bay]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2017/10/bishop-george-augustus-selwyns-cathedral-in-auckland-finally-consecrated.aspx | title = Bishop George Augustus Selwyn's cathedral in Auckland finally consecrated | accessdate=17 November 2017| date = 31 October 2017| work=Anglican Communion New Service}}</ref> The service was attended by bishops of New Zealand, Aotearoa, Australia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Lichfield and a congregation of around 1400.

====''Mountain Fountain'' sculpture====
[[File:Mtn ftn 2023-09-01 1.png|thumb|''Mountain Fountain'' in the forecourt of Holy Trinity Cathedral]]
In 2010, the [[Terry Stringer]] sculpture ''[[Mountain Fountain]]'' was relocated from storage to the forecourt of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. It had previously been located in [[Aotea Square]] from its completion in 1981 until its decommission in 2008 during renovations to Aotea Square. Holy Trinity Cathedral council member John Wilson suggested the new site, and it was chosen after consultation with Stringer, the public, and council art advisors. The sculpture fulfilled Professor Toy's original vision to have an artwork situated next to the cathedral.<ref name=Cooke>{{cite news |title=''Mountain Fountain''{{'s}} moving |date=2009-10-02 |work=East And Bays Courier |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/2921075/Mountain-Fountain-s-moving |last=Cooke |first=Michelle |accessdate= }}</ref> ''Mountain Fountain'' was dedicated in its new location on 12 September 2010.<ref name="Ashton">{{cite web |url=https://anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/tikanga_pakeha/mountain |title=Inspirational recycling at Parnell |last = Ashton |first=Lloyd |work=Anglican Taonga |date=2010-09-12 }}</ref>

====Bishop Selwyn Chapel====
The Bishop Selwyn Chapel was designed in 2017 by the Fearon Hay Architects. The chapel was nominated for the religious section of the World Architecture Festival in Berlin. At the back of the cathedral property it serves as a church for the un-choral eucharists.

====Deans of Holy Trinity====
* 2017–present: Anne Mills<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.holy-trinity.org.nz/single-post/2017/05/02/Installation-Service|title = Installation service|publisher= Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland|accessdate = 22 September 2017|date=6 July 2017}}</ref> (previously Vicar of Saint Mark's, Remuera) (installed 6 July 2017)
* 2010–2017: [[Jo Kelly-Moore]] (afterwards [[Archdeacon of Canterbury]])
* 2007–2010: [[Ross Bay|Ross Graham Bay]] (afterwards [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland|Bishop of Auckland]])
* 2000–2007: [[Richard Randerson|John Richard Randerson]] (afterwards [[Assistant Bishop]] of the [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland]], 2002)
* 1997–2000: Michael O'Connor<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=142916| title = Anglican dean asked to leave|work= The New Zealand Herald|accessdate = 20 December 2012|date=4 July 2000}}</ref>
* 1991–1997: Geoff Hickman
* 1970–1991: [[John Rymer|John Oliver Rymer]]<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3400651| title = Obituary: Very Rev Dean Emeritus John Rymer|work= The New Zealand Herald|accessdate = 20 December 2012|date=12 April 2003}}</ref>
* 1949–1969: George Rae Monteith<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/arnold-pickmere/news/article.cfm?a_id=65&objectid=3508536| title = Obituary: George Monteith|work= The New Zealand Herald|accessdate = 20 December 2012|date=21 June 2003}}</ref> (later Vicar-General and Assistant Bishop of Auckland)
* 1946–1948: [[Sydney Caulton|Sydney Gethin Caulton]] (afterwards [[Bishop of Melanesia]], 1948)

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Chancel from the nave, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.JPG|Interior of Holy Trinity Cathedral: [[chancel]] viewed from the [[nave]]
Diocese of Auckland flags.jpg|Flags of Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Diocese of Auckland, with the west window of the cathedral
Nave towards sanctuary, St Mary's-in-Holy Trinity.jpg|The interior of [[St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland]]
St Mary's in Parnell from S.jpg|The wooden three-sided altar [[tribune (architecture)|tribune]] of [[St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland]] is reminiscent of a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] European cathedral
St Mary's in Parnell from N.jpg|The modern cathedral complex includes [[Benjamin Mountfort|Mountfort's]] earlier wooden cathedral of 1886. The terminating gables served as an inspiration to the [[façade]] of the cathedral nave 
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|http://www.holy-trinity.org.nz}}
* {{cite web |title=360-degree interactive virtual tour of the inside of the Holy Trinity Cathedral |url=https://www.google.co.nz/maps/place/Holy+Trinity+Cathedral/@-36.859798,174.783533,3a,75y,178.24h,90t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s-rZXwN-MCZIAAAQW_jF_MQ!2e0!3e2!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xc037b09d90386a68!6m1!1e1 |publisher=Google Maps |date= }}
* {{cite web |title=360-degree interactive virtual tour of the inside of St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-36.860134,174.783301,3a,75y,174.3h,70.16t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1shzsBN3jZR9cAAAQpzSFfhg!2e0!3e2!6m1!1e1?hl=en |publisher=Google Maps |date= }}
*[http://www.auckanglican.org.nz/ Diocese of Auckland]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050103063409/http://www.auckanglican.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections The Cathedral Statute 1996]
*{{cite web |url=http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1S5 |title=Bishop Selwyn |work=NZ Biographical Dictionary |date= }}

{{Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|state=collapsed}}
{{Parnell, New Zealand}}

[[Category:Parnell, New Zealand]]
[[Category:Churches in Auckland]]
[[Category:Anglican cathedrals in New Zealand|Auckland]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Auckland]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1995]]
[[Category:1990s architecture in New Zealand]]
[[Category:20th-century Anglican church buildings in New Zealand]]