HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, DEVONPORT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 39, 24 September 1892, Page 957

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, DEVONPORT.

THE first building bearing the above designation was opened for public worship by Bishop Selwyn on Sunday, September 3rd, 1865. It was a small church, capable of seating about one hundred and eighty people. Though small, it was fully adequate to the requirements of the population then resident in Devonport. Thirty five years ago there were about fifteen families settled in what was then called ‘The Flagstaff.’ In those days a clergyman from Auckland paid occasional visits to the residents of Devonport, and, as there was neither school nor church, services were held in the houses of the settlers. The excellent ferry service of to day was not then, nor for many years after, in existence. Communication with Auckland was by sailing boats. A change, however, came when the shipbuilding industry was established on the North Shore in 1860 The population of the district was considerably increased, and it soon became necessary to make some suitable provision for religious worship. But the diffi?ulty then as now was to raise the money required for the purpose. The eaily settlers, however, were not easily discouraged. They set to work and collected enough money to add to the little building, which then served the purposes of school and church. Subsequently a more ambitious scheme was mooted. This was the erection of a church. A canvass of the district was made and promises of subscriptions received. The estimated cost of the new- church was £5OO, but the lowest tender was £6OO. However, in various ways a sufficient sum was collected to justify the church committee n proceeding with the work. The result was the erection and dedication of a handsome little church in 1865 It was duly announced that the church would be opened on September 3rd of that year by Bishop Selwyn. The morning was very stormy. St. Paul’s choir was brought over in the ferry steamer Waitemata, the first to ply between North Shore and Auckland. But no Bishop Selwyn was with them. The wind was rising, and it seemed hopeless to expect theßishopthatday. Just, however,as theclergyman, Mr Kerr, was preparing to take the whole service himself a whaleboat was descried leaving Judge’s Bay. A few minutes afterwards the Bishop was seen steering a boat manned by a crew of Melanesians, and literally ‘ riding upon the storm.’ He was joyfully welcomed when he drove the boat hard up on the beach and leaped ashore to avoid the surf. The church was crowded, the Bishop more than usually impressive, and the choir gave a rare musical treat. Such was the opening service in the first church of the Holy Trinity. In the roll of seat holders the following wellknown names occur: —Captains Burgess, Wynyard, and Filder, Messrs Duder, O. Mays, W. H. Brown, Seaman, Alison, and H. M. Jervis. The present church is a large and substantial building erected within the last twelve years, and seated for nearly five hundred worshippers. Devonport, which thirty-five years ago had a population of fifteen families, has now a population of five hundred families. It was necessary to keep pace with this growth of population by building a larger chureh. This was accordingly done at a cost little short of £2,500. An excellent design was prepared by Mr

E. Bartley, architect, and the work was most faithfully and ably executed by Mr W. Philcox. The following are the names of the clergymen who successively have ha<l charge of the parish up to the present time —Revs. E H. Heywood, Thomas Kerr, B. G. Ash-

well, and J. Bates. The last named is the present incumbent, and was appointed in October, 1872. This church is one of the best buildings in the diocese and is exceedingly well appointed. There is ample accommodation for a choir of thirty voices, a handsome pulpit of rimu and puriri, font, prayer desk, and a beautiful brass lectern, presented by the widow of the late Captain S. J. Williams.