Holy Trinity History
 |
|
Late 1880's - before the present church building
The first records of Christian worship in our region was in homes in the Canterbury area in 1848 and All Saints Petersham in 1871. There was a timber hall on the site of the present church where services where held (this hall was then divided up, part of which is now the Jennifer Russell Hall standing behind the Holy Trinity, 1886 church building - now Holy Trinity Youth Fitness Centre).
It was through a conversation with the then rector of Petersham that some of the settlers in Dulwich Hill took the initiative to raise funds for for the establishment of their own place of worship. The first Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dulwich Hill (on the opposite side of the present day church) was dedicated to God by Bishop Barry on April 10, 1886 (present day Youth Centre).
The first rector Rev. James Clarke recommended the new parish to the locals in these words: "We have free seats and give equal privileges to all who worship within the church doors."
Clarke was succeeded by Rev.W.H.Saunders in 1889 and he by Rev E.A. Colvin in 1895 who remained rector of the parish until 1910.
1900's - erecting the present church building
By Colvin's time there was a building boom in the inner west, so that by 1906 the first church building was too small, so it was extended to the footpath and in 1900 a branch church was established in Hurlston Park. In this era, over 50% of the population claimed to be Anglicans.
Much successful ministry took place during Colvin's years including a very successful mission conducted by Rev. R.B.S. Hammond (founder of Hammondville).
Colvin was succeeded in 1911 by Holy Trinity's best known rector Rev. George Chambers who was responsible for the erection of the present church building. The foundation stone was laid on June 9th 1915 and was completed by December the same year for the princely cost of 8000 pounds. After much effort by parishioners to raise funds to repay the loan Chambers reflected: "Truly we can say that God has been with us He has blessed us. To Him be the glory. The parish now has a church which will be a place of comfort, joy and rest and peace...to the generations to come."
Chambers oversaw a great many other achievements in his own time including the acquisition of a new church hall and rectory, and the establishment of Trinity Grammar School. It was the members of Holy Trinity whose children initially formed the majority of students entering the new school. Chambers wrote: "The faith courage and devotion of the parish to this school will always be one of the most worthy incidents in it's history".
The accomplishments of the church at this time were all the more extraordinary when seen against the backdrop of the war raging in Europe for much of this time and which itself claimed the lives of many parishioners who volunteered for service. Nonetheless, the congregation managed to raise the enormous amounts of money for its ministry projects, and to make a huge contribution to the community.
Reflecting on his time at Holy Trinity, Chambers wrote: "The ideal we set before us on our first Sunday in church was 'workers together' and this has been the truest description of our relationship since." This model left by Chambers of the whole congregation working together sacrificially in the service of God and the community, has been part of the identity of Holy Trinity ever since.
1920's - A mission minded church
By the time Chambers left in 1928, Holy Trinity had established two branch churches - St Stephen's at Hurlstone Park and St Aidan's at Dulwich Hill south. The congregation had also been responsible for some significant contributions to oversees mission. "Keep back the missionary contributions in the future and you can write doom for the church upon its door.", Chambers once said. Holy Trinity by that stage had yielded both finances and some eight persons to the mission field.
Chambers himself, moved on to become the first Bishop of Tanganyika (in Africa), and was succeeded by Rev. F.W. Tugwell in 1928, and by Rev. H.E. Taylor in 1934.
1930's - a focus on youth
Taylor was a popular and sporting minded man who endeared himself to the youth of the area. At this time, the church was still heavily involved with Trinity Grammar School and the religious instruction of the students was a fundamental part of the ministry. Taylor's era is also remembered by the purchase of the adjoining property for the rectory (first occupied by the rector in 1936 and still used today), and the setting up of the first Women's Guild.
Taylor died while still in office and was replaced by Rev E.L Milliard in 1940.