Holy Trinity Anglican Church - New Plymouth

CHURCH HALLS

The building, which served as a day school as well as a Sunday School, was erected in 1848. From old Te Henui accounts, the cost of building materials was met by payment in small sums, several of £5 only. The total amount of £110 was finally paid in 1852. It is interesting to compare this with the cost of the present hall built in 1962 for £8500.

There arc no photos available of this first hall, but the accounts indicate that it was constructed of materials similar to those used for the chapel and that it was built by the same tradesmen. As with the chapel the roof was a source of trouble. There are numerous entries in the accounts of "Repairing Thatch" to N. Reed and P. Groves.

The teacher for the day school was Miss Hamblyn (Mrs. Foote), who received from the church six shillings per month. We do not know by how much this sum was supplemented by parents of the pupils.

In 1898, the Fitzroy area was becoming more closely settled, and church members of Holy Trinity decided that a new building was needed both for a Sunday School and for social gatherings. A hall was designed by Mr. F.

Messenger, architect of New Plymouth, and erected behind the church. The cost was £ 168-10-0, half of which was provided by St. Mary's Vestry.

Mrs. and Miss Bosworth gave a great deal of time and energy to raising the remaining half. When this new Sunday School was opened there were about one hundred scholars. We read that the discipline was good. Surely this is a tribute to the superintendent Mr. Cook, and his staff, who were: Mr. and Mrs. Chivers, Mrs. Cole (wife of Archdeacon Cole), Miss Hamilton (sister of Mrs. Cole), Miss Bosworth, Miss Harding, Miss Searle.

In 1905, the hall was leased during week days to the Education Board, whilst repairs were made to the Fitzroy School. Electric light was installed in 1915.

During the term of Rev. Beaumont funds were raised by the Stewardship Campaign, 1957-1960, to build the existing Parish Hall. The stone was laid by Archdeacon Liggett in 1962. This well-designed and commodious building was erected to the north of the church and nearer to Te Henui Street than the old hall. The architect was Mr. R. Syme, of New 
Plymouth.