Holy Trinity Anglican Church - New Plymouth

CLERGY HOUSES

At the eastern end of Courtenay Street stands a relic of the past, unique amongst church buildings in New Zealand. That it was designed for some ecclesiastical purpose, is evidenced by the coat of arms of the Diocese of New Zealand, on the building. This heraldic device of three stars on a blue background is let into the wall above the attic window.

The small stone building is all that remains to show that the first vicarage of the parish of St. Mary's and Holy Trinity was situated on that land. For this building stones were hauled by bullocks from Te Henui stream and limestone was brought from Nelson. The original roof was thatched and this was later replaced, first by shingles and later by iron.

There are few records of the early history of this locality, and the exact date of the completion of the stone building cannot be proven. Fortunately, the diary of Rev. Richard Taylor, priest-in-charge at Wanganui, has been preserved and can be seen in the Turnbull Library, Wellington. Rev. Taylor recorded that in 1844 he visited Rev. Bolland at New Plymouth. The latter was living in a small stone building "situated very romantically."

Among the records in the Taranaki Museum is a faded photograph of a drawing of a single-storied house, with verandah, entitled "The First Vicarage." This may have been Mr. Cooke's House. In 1843, Bishop Selwyn wrote to Rev. Bolland, "I have left £150 in the _.hands of Mr. Wicksteed, which will be available to provide you with a house. Mr. Cooke's house may be had for that sum.^-

As far as we know Mr. Bolland chose this house which was built of raupo. The historian, Mr. Skinner, wrote that this house was later burnt to the ground.

In a letter to his brother-in-law iii England, the vicar mentions that he planned to set up a Taranaki Mission Station on the site. The buildings he hoped to have erected were: A school-room, a hospital and between them an hostelry. The plan for these buildings dated 1846, was drawn up by Mr. Edwin Harris of the staff of the Chief surveyor, Mr. Carrington, and is in the Taranaki Museum.

As was customary in those days, the vicarage was a refuge for many travellers, and Rev. and Mrs. Bolland showed great hospitality to those in need of a night's shelter. It was from one such traveller that Rev. Bolland contracted fever and died in 1847. This was unusually sad for Mrs. Bolland whose infant son was only three days old.

The Vicarage was occupied by Rev. Govett (except for a period of absence in England) until the Maori wars of 1860. In these troublous times the wooden additions which had been made were destroyed by fire. but the stone building remained and served as an outpost for soldiers. Guns were stored in the attic. Some years later when the house was occupied by Captain Wilson, son of Dr. Peter Wilson, a pistol was found under the eaves.

The last curate to occupy he old vicarage was Rev. Walker, who lived there from 1892­1898.

In 1950, the Anglican Trust Board sold the property to the New Plymouth City Council, for £250. Ten years later The Historic Places Trust erected a tablet which hears the inscription:—

Te Henui Vicarage. Built 1843. Rev. Bolland first vicar in residence.

SECOND VICARAGE

For twenty years after Rev. Walker moved from the old stone vicarage, no clergy­man resided permanently at Te Henui. With the establishment of the Parochial District of Fitzroy and Bell Block, it was considered desirable that a vicarage be purchased in the vicinity of Holy Trinity. A fund was set up and much work was done to raise sufficient money for a suitable property. This became available in McLean Street and was purchased in 1918 for £600. This vicarage was in use for thirty years.

THIRD VICARAGE

Situated in Henui Street this was built in 1956 adjacent to the church. Mr. R. Day, that stalwart of Holy Trinity for so many ears was largely responsible for the design of the house