| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Anglican Communion |
| Website | htctt.org |
| Consecrated | May 25th, 1823 |
| Status | Closed for restoration |
| Architect | Philip Reinagle |
| Style | Mainly Gothic Revival architecture |
| Years built | 1816-1823 |
| Diocese | Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Province | Church in the Province of the West Indies |
| Bishop | Claude Berkley |
| Dean | Dr. Shelley-Ann Tenia[1] |
Holy Trinity Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
Constructed between 1816-1823, it is the principal Anglican cathedral in the country and serves as the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.
History
The original Holy Trinity Church was a wooden building which stood on the corner of Prince Street and Frederick Street, but was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1808.
By 1815, arrangements were made under the then Governor Sir Ralph Woodford to build the church at its present site, 30A Abercromby Street, after alternative plans to rebuild on what is today Woodford Square were rejected. The corner stone of the church was laid in 1816 and the construction was completed in 1823.[2] It was consecrated on Trinity Sunday in May 25th, 1823.[3]
In 1872, the Anglican Church in Trinidad became a diocese, and the Trinity Church was elevated to Trinity Cathedral.[4]
The cathedral was badly damaged in the earthquake of August 2018, particularly the walls, the steeple, and chancel roof, as well as several stone pinnacles. The government of Trinidad and Tobago provided $20 million TTD towards the restoration of the building against an expected total cost of $80 million TTD. The cathedral remains closed until restoration and repairs can be completed.[5]
Architecture
The design, which has a strong neo-Gothic element, is credited to Philip Reinagle (son of the painter of the same name).[6] It incorporates lancet windows, pinnacled buttresses, a steeply pitched roof and an overall emphasis on height. The construction materials include blue limestone, from the Laventille quarries and yellow brick, the latter transported from England.[6]
Interior
The cathedral features a hammerbeam roof.
The organ was constructed by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd, a British firm.
Administration
From 1824 until 1872 Trinidad was administered by the Bishop of Barbados. The Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago was set up in 1872. In 1908, an anonymous gift of a site in Port of Spain enabled construction to begin on Hayes Court, a house for the bishop.
The current dean and rector is the Very Reverend Dr. Shelley-Ann Tenia.[1] She previously served as a rector in Curepe.
References
- ^ "TT's first female Anglican dean and rector at Holy Trinity Cathedral". Newsday.co.tt. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ^ Mother Church, TT Archived 2015-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Our Story". The Holy Trinity Cathedral. 2024-12-30. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ^ "The Oldest Anglican Church in Trinidad". The Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago. 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ^ "Restoration". The Holy Trinity Cathedral. 2025-01-04. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ^ "Holy Trinity Cathedral". National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2026-03-25.