Garrison Church
Location: 66 Lower Fort Street, Millers PointBuilt to the design of Henry Ginn, the Holy Trinity Church (its correct title) was Australia's first military church, being constructed as a place of worship for the British regiment stationed at nearby Dawes Point. Architect Edmund Blackett was commissioned to enlarge the church to accommodate 600 people in 1855, his additions being finally completed in 1878, some 18 years after the military ceased using it for morning prayers. Sir Maurice O'Connell, who was the son-in-law of Gov. Bligh, was the commander of the military garrisons for whom the church was built.
The church features regimental plaques recalling its military associations, a carved red cedar pulpit and a brightly coloured east window donated by a parishioner, Dr. James Mitchell, father of David Scott Mitchell, the principal benefactor of the Mitchell Library wing of the State Library of New South Wales.
Today you can still attend services at the church. There is a small museum/exhibit in the entryway displaying early Australian military and historical items, along with numerous plaques on the left (West) wall dedicated to various Australian military groups.
The Garrison Church was planned at a meeting convened by Reverend William Cowper in December 1839 because the seating capacity at the nearby St Philip's Church had been outgrown by the congregation.[6] Cowper made a significant contribution to funding the church, stipulating that it be named "The Holy Trinity". The land was granted for the church and associated schoolhouse by George Gipps. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop William Broughton on 23 June 1840. At the foundation service the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Broughton concluded his address "expressing his belief that those present would not only avail themselves of the building about to be erected for perpetuating the true worship of the true God, but also expressing his fervent wishes that the building might for generations be devoted to the purposes for which it was to be constructed." The Garrison Church was one of nine or ten churches under construction at the time, projects considered by the Sydney Morning Herald at the time to "clearly prove ... still Religion and Morality are rapidly advancing amongst us"
The first service was held on Whitsunday in 1844, and the first rector John Grylls was appointed and licensed soon after, on a salary of £500 (including £200 from the Government). The church was the official Garrison church for the imperial troops at Dawes Point Battery until they were withdrawn from Sydney in 1870. A small adjoining hall was used as a school, and for a time was the headquarters of the 30th Scottish Battalion, which continued its relationship with the church at anniversaries.
For some years the Garrison Church was the "parish church" of Government House. During World War II, troops on leave were housed and fed in the Garrison Hall. Records right back to the 1840s record a history of charitable giving by the church in response to regional emergencies including the 1848 sinking of the steamer Sovereign, and the 1851 Gundagai floods. Collections were also taken in aid of the poor in the parish.
The Building: The church building was designed by Henry Ginn, and built by mason George Payten/Paton and builder Edward Flood. The authorisation was for a north-south building, but it was built east-west. Lighting was installed in 1850 after a special collection for the purpose. Colonial architect Edmund Blacket made some enhancements to the building in the period 1855-1859, including adding the wine-glass shaped pulpit, and the north-eastern vestry. The design included a tower at the west end, which was never built, and the large buttresses built in preparation have since been reduced.
The eastern stained-glass window by C. Clutterbuck was purchased for £100 in 1860, and has corbels in the form of human heads (traditionally thought to be Queen Victoria and Prince Albert). It was installed in the chancel in 1861 by Rose Scott in memory of her parents Helenus and Augusta Maria Scott. It shows scenes representing the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Baptism of Christ and the Ascension, and has been called "one of the most beautiful windows in Australia".
A window on the south wall is dedicated to Dr James Mitchell and his wife Augusta Mary Mitchell (Helenus Scott's sister), the parents of David Scott Mitchell. Another of the southern windows is dedicated to John Flavelle, a prominent optician and jeweller. Several other windows were presented by James Merriman, after whose family the nearby Merriman Street is named, one of the windows is a memorial to his son. One of the windows on the northern wall is a memorial to William George Summerbell, and another to George Atherden. Many of the memorials in the church are military related, although in the sanctuary there are also a number of memorials to clergy.
The architecture was considered to be of "mixed Gothic" style. The dimensions are about 100 feet (30 m) by 55 feet (17 m), and the height of the walls about 14 m. It is constructed with sandstone from the nearby Argyle Cut. The nave has two high arcades formed by five horseshoe arches supported by solid stone columns.
A reconstruction was undertaken in 1878, which included installing arches with a 90 foot (27 m) span resting on four pillars on each side of the church. A renovation and restoration was completed in 1938.
One of the stained glass windows, depicting the Angel of Death sheltering a small child, was the subject of an Australian Christmas stamp in 1984.
