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Church Architecture

TO THE GLORY OF THE BLESSED
AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY
THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THE
RIGHT REVEREND
ALLEN HOWARD JOHNSTON
LORD BISHOP OF DUNEDIN
20th MARCH 1954

V. BYRON                   REV. H. HOOK         R.  McDOWELL SMITH
BUILDER                            VICAR                           ARCHITECT

                                                                            The present building was dedicated on February 23 1957.
                                                                            The Church was consecrated on February 7 1959.
                                                                            The Architecture – This can best be described as  Neo-Gothic.


Porch and Tower: In the Porch you will see a block of stone from St. Paul’s Cathedral,London, signifying the buildings link in the Anglican Communion.   At the service of Consecration on February 7 1959,the Bishop, Rt Rev A.H. Johnston carved his mark on Consecration on this St Paul’s stone. This is in the form of a Maltese Cross with the year 1959 and the letter “A”  (Allen,Dunedin).


The bell can be seen from outside the porch hanging in its place high in the Tower. It weighs approximately 5 cwt. and was given to the parish by Mr L.H. Greenfield.  Its ring is C natural and was cast by John Taylor of Loughborough, England. The diameter is 30″
Nave: As you move into the church immediately in front of you is the Font – used for the baptism of those people seeking to commit themselves to God.   If you allow your eyes to follow up to the roof you will observe the splendid structure of the beams.   The Nave, the body of the Church, seats approximately 150 in the pews.  Note the linen-fold carving on pew ends. The pulpit is on the right-hand side, the carved badges on the side of the Pulpit represent mythical animals whose characteristics are associated with the writers of the Four Gospels:   St Matthew – winged man – his account of Christ’s incarnation;   St Mark – winged lion – symbol of Venice, he was shipwrecked in that area; St Luke – winged ox – symbol of sacrifice; St John -an eagle – symbol of highest inspiration.
The only piece of the original church to survive the fire of 1945 was the brass eagle from the lectern, a memorial to Canon Hoani Parata a previous Vicar of Holy Trinity.    The memorial lectern was given by the parishioners in 1930 after his death. The eagle was incorporated into the pulpit in 1981. Hoani Parata was ordained Priest in 1908 and held curacies in London and on the Continent. He died in 1928. Gore’s Anglican Care Residence for the Elderly, which was opened in 1971, is named after him.


South Transept: This contains the pipes of the organ.  The organ was given in memory of Sgt. Pilot F.R. Wallis killed in action in North Africa, 6 December 1941. The organ is a two manual pipe organ electric action (coupling the keyboards to the pipes) made by the Vermulen Company of Holland. In 1981 the organ had to be pulled forward from the back wall to prevent deterioration from the damp.  The space that was created has been formed into Christ the King Chapel.  A stained glass window by Rena Jarosewitsch was installed in 1990. This chapel is used for prayer for the sick and a place for private quiet prayer. What would correspond to the North Transept contains the Choir Vestry and the Priests vestry. Behind the communion rails is the Sanctuary which contains the Altar on the front of which is carved  I.H.S. a contracted form of the Greek word for JESUS.   This is normally covered by the colorful altar frontal except during Lent and Advent. The Bishops chair is against the North Wall, A Sedelia (large wooden chair) is positioned against the South wall. This is used by the servers to sit on. An Aumbrey is mounted on the wall on the left.  It contains sacred vessels and the reserved sacrament. The stained glass windows of St Matthew and St Mark were given in memory of Thomas and Sarah Taylor. Those of St Luke and St John are in memory of Joseph and Jane Rogers and their son Ernest. The window of St. Paul is in memory of Fred Murray. These windows were made by White Friars in England. High over the sanctuary is the sanctuary light signifying God’s constant presence. The roof of the chancel is supported by hammer beams.   The whole building is a wonderful expression of the builders’ art.


Vestments: The Church contains some very beautiful vestments, chasubles – the cape worn by the Priest during Communion – in various liturgical colours for the differing seasons and festivals of the Church.


Church Plate: Most of the plate has been made by W.F. Knight of Wellingborough,England.


Wardens Wands: These were given in memory of Thomas and Mary Hargest, gifted in August 1882.

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