The Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago

The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity

 

 

 

Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port of Spain

 

Choose your topic of interest below ▼

  1. Location
  2. Contact Information
  3. Our Vision Statement
  4. Our Mission Statement
  5. Organizational Structure
  6. Parish Groups
  7. Deans & Rectors of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
  8. The History of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
  1. The Cathedral Chapter

Location

30 A Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Contact Information

Tel. Office: 623-7271  Fax: 624-9827             Email: motherchurch@gmail.com

Our Vision Statement

“To restore all people to unity with God and one another in Christ”

Our Mission Statement

“We Equip God’s People for Mission and Ministry”

Organizational Structure

Dean and Rector: The Very Reverend Dr. Shelley-Ann Tenia

Assistant Curates: 

  1. The Reverend Father Augustus Thompson
  2. The Reverend David Pollard
  3. The Reverend Cheryl Mottley
  4. The Reverend Gerald Hendrickson

Lay Ministers: 

  1. Mr. George James
  2. Mr. Hubert Phillip
  3. Mr. Brent Miller
  4. Ms. Erica Bayley

Eucharistic Assistants

  1. Ms. Ann Niles
  2. Mr. Alvin Stewart
  3. Mrs. Catherine Virgil
  4. Mr. Suresh Balliram
  5. Mr. Arden McLean
  6. Dr. Phaedra Pierre
  7. Ms. Niasha Joefield
  8. Mrs. Karen Cordner-Crichlow
  9. Mr.  Adrian Gill

Rector’s Warden: Mrs. Elizabeth Samuel-Howe

Rector’s Warden Emeritus:  Dr. Alan Patrick (Deceased)

People’s Warden: Mrs. Gwendolyn Roberts

Verger: Mrs. Brenda McLean Taylor

Assistant Verger: Vacant

Organist: Mr. Rico Cummins

Assistant Organist: Ms. Gloria Stewart

Organ Scholar: Mr. Ramon Howe (Overseas on Study Leave)                                                                   

Vestry:

  1. The Very Reverend Dr. Shelley-Ann Tenia – Dean& Rector
  2. The Reverend Father Augustus Thompson – Assistant Curate
  3. The Reverend Fedinand David Pollard – Deacon
  4. The Reverend Cheryl Mottley – Deacon
  5. The Reverend Gerald Hendrickson – Deacon
  6. Mrs. Elizabeth Samuel-Howe – Rector’s Warden
  7. Mrs. Gwendolyn Roberts – People’s Warden
  8. Ms. Edwina Leacock – Chairman Finance & Administration
  9. Ms. Gwenyth Brizan – Chairman Social Outreach
  10. Mr. David Thomas – North-West Regional Council Representative
  11. Dr. Phaedra Pierre – Vestry Member
  12. Mrs. Catherine Vergil – Vestry Member
  13. Ms. Damali Manning –  Secretary
  14. Mr. Cedric Joefield – Vestry Member
  15. Ms. Candice Marks – Vestry Member
  16. Mr. Carlos Taylor – Head of OSHA Team

Auditor: Ms. Hyacinth Symms

Office Personnel:              

Parish Administrator: Ms. Lavaughn Honore`

Parish Secretary: Mrs. Natasha Hunte         

Records Officer: Ms. Shanice Letren                

Security Personnel:

  1. Ms. Renee Samuel – Security Supervisor
  2. Mr. Trevor Jones
  3. Mr. Steve Douglas
  4. Mr. Michael Joseph
  5. Mr. Michael Lovelace ( Relief Officer)

Ancillary Staff (Cleaners):                     

  1. Mrs. Irma Thomas
  2. Ms.  Michelle Grimes

 Groundskeepers: Mr. Trevor and Carlene Clarke

Parish Groups

  1. Mother’s Union
  2. A.C.M.S.
  3. Bible Class
  4. Cub/Scouts
  5. Folk Choir
  6. Sanctuary Guild
  7. Servers’ Guild
  8. Social Outreach
  9. Sunday School
  10. Ushers
  11. Worship Committee
  12. Christian Education
  13. Events Committee
  14. Youth on the Move
  15. Building & Lands
  16. Marriage Counsellors
  17. Stewardship
  18. Communications & Public Relations
  19. Archives
  20. Human Resource
  21. Finance and Administration
  22. Disaster Emergency Relief & Welfare Committee
  23. O.S.H.A.
  24. Deanery Committee
  25. T.A.G.S.

Parish Schools:                                  

  1. Trinity College, Moka, Maraval
  2. Trinity Junior Anglican School
  3. Christus Rex Boys’ Anglican School
  4. St. Catherine’s Girls’ Anglican School

Home for Seniors:  Oxford Street (St. Clare) Home

Parish Diary

Services held at Present

Friday

6:15am

Morning Prayer

 

6:30am

Holy Eucharist

 

12:00noon

Holy Eucharist

Saturday

5:00pm

Holy Eucharist

Sunday  

7:00am

Sung Eucharist


Parish Groups Monthly Meetings

Please Note: All monthly group meeting are held via our Zoom platforms in adherence to Covid 19 protocols. Should clearance be granted to resume normal activities; regular monthly group meetings would also resume

Deans & Rectors of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

The Rev. John H. Clapham

The Rev. George Cummings

(Became the first Archdeacon in 1842)

The Rev. George W. Chamberlain

The Rev. Samuel L.B. Richards

(The Holy Trinity Church became The Holy Trinity Cathedral in 1872)
 

The Rt. Rev. Richard Rawle

(First Bishop of Trinidad)

The Very Rev. Augustus E. Smith

(The First Rector to be called Dean. In 1902 he was made Archdeacon in addition to being Dean)
 

The Very Rev. Edward J. Holt

The Very Rev. Harold Beardmore

(Later, Bishop of St. Helena)

The Very Rev. John E. M. Ashworth

The Rt. Rev. Benjamin N.Y. Vaughan

(Later, Bishop Suffragan of Mandeville, Jamaica; Bishop of Belize; Dean of Bangor, Wales; Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, Wales)
 

The Very Rev. Fredrick D. Chaplin

The Very Rev. Alfred T.P Harrison

The Very Rev. Rawle E. Douglin

The Rt. Rev. Rawle E. Douglin

The Very Rev. Dr. Knolly U. Clarke

The Very Rev. Richard I. C. Sampson

The Right Rev. Claude Berkley

(First Tobagonian as both Bishop &  Ordinary of the Cathedral)

The Very Rev. Dr. Shelley-Ann Tenia

The History of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity which is the mother church in the Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago stands majestically in the heart of the capital city of Port-of-Spain.  Since its consecration in 1823, this building has been a geographical icon and a national landmark of Trinidad and Tobago.

The first Anglican Church, known simply as the Trinity Church, was a modest wooden building on the corner of Prince and Frederick Streets.  In 1808, a great fire swept through the city, destroying every public building, including the church.  In 1809, the British Crown granted money for the construction of the new church.  The construction was started in Brunswick Square (now Woodford Square), but there were objections from the public resulting in a halt to construction.

On May 30th 1816, the cornerstone of the Trinity Cathedral was laid in its current location on 30A Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.  Architecturally, the Cathedral reflects the late Gregorian style mixed with the Gothic, as well as elements of the Victorian Age.  The layout was designed by the Colonial Secretary, Philip Reingale.  The magnificent hammer-beam roof is made of local wood and characterized by huge trusses.  The altar is built entirely of selected local mahogany and backed by alabaster and marble mounted on a base of Portland stone.  The stained glass windows showcase magnificent representations of the saints.  The Cathedral is filled with interesting historical items, such as the marble statue dedicated to former Governor and founder of the Church, Sir Ralph Woodford.  Along the walls inside the Cathedral are tablets placed “in memory of” former members of the British elite of colonial days.  The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity was consecrated on Trinity Sunday, May 25th, 1823.

The Labyrinth and the Garden of Peace

The Labyrinth and The Garden of Peace are now well established as sacred spaces of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  The history of these sacred spaces is linked to two Anglican anniversaries which were celebrated in 1998. That year marked the 175th anniversary of the Parish Church of Holy Trinity, and, the 125th anniversary of The Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dean Knolly Clarke initiated The 175th Anniversary Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Alan Patrick. In the course of the Cathedral’s celebration, Bishop Rawle Douglin invited Dr. Patrick to extend his chairmanship to the 125th Anniversary Committee of The Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago. Both committees highlighted the Church’s contribution to this country especially in the areas of Arts, Education and Social Outreach. It was felt that the success of these celebrations should motivate the Church to face the challenges of the future.

At that time, the world was on the eve of the 21st century which signaled enormous cultural changes through the advancement of information and communication technologies. Already, there were two major shifts in the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. With regard to religion, the country still respected rituals, but more people were embracing life as a personal walk with God.  This shift led to the construction of the Labyrinth as a sacred space for private prayer. With regard to final rites, there was also a major shift in the thinking of our national public. The society was becoming more open to cremation and the interment of remains in beautiful sacred spaces. This was the impetus for the construction of The Garden of Peace on the Cathedral Grounds.

The Organ

The Organ
The Holy Trinity Cathedral Organ

The organ was originally installed in 1914 and was built by J.W. Walker and Company, a prominent UK organ builder. It is a three (3) manual (keyboard) instrument with pedals and the variety of stops gives it great versatility in accompanying small, intimate acts of worship and large Diocesan and Civic Services in the Cathedral as well as being a superb recital instrument.

In 2010 the Cathedral authorities embarked on an ambitious programme to have the organ completely re-furbished and rebuilt, and this process is ongoing. The pipework and inner workings of the instrument were cleaned and replaced and repaired, and the new ‘detached’ console (the part of the instrument which the organist plays) has been installed. Thus, we now have a fine instrument which employs the latest in modern technology, including fibre optics, combined with original pipe-work which is now over a century old. We are most grateful for the advice, expertise and skill of Mr. David Burke of Burke Organ Builders of Barbados who has diligently and expertly seen this project through to fruition. It is interesting to note that Mr. Burke was originally trained by Walkers UK who originally built the instrument.

There is still work to be done to enhance and expand the organ. It is also vital that the instrument is regularly maintained and tuned to keep it in pristine condition. This should ensure that its ‘life’ continues well into the next century.

The Cathedral Chapter

“Decani”
Archdeacon of TobagoThe Venerable Phillip Isaac
Archdeacon of North TrinidadThe Venerable Kenley Baldeo
Stall of St. BonifaceVacant
Stall of St. ChadThe Reverend Canon Richard Jacob
Stall of St. AidanVacant
  
“Cantoris”
Archdeacon of South TrinidadThe Venerable Edwin Primus
Stall of St. HildaVacant
Canon MissionerThe Reverend Canon Colin Sampson
Stall of St. CuthbertVacant
Stall of St. PatrickThe Reverend Canon Erwin Tembo
Dean EmeritusThe Very Reverend Dr. Knolly Clarke
Archdeacon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Kenneth Forrester
Archdeacon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Dr. Steve West
CanonThe Reverend Canon Winston Mulcare
CanonThe Reverend Canon Francis Caesar
Canon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Christopher Drakes
CanonThe Reverend Canon Ronald Branche
Canon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Selwyn Nurse
Canon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Hilton Bonas
Canon EmeritusThe Reverend Canon Jemmott Hazelwood