POPULAR Suva landmark, the Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1886, has an evolutionary history, The Fiji Times of June 2, 1917 noted.
In 1870 before the church was built, services were held at Mr Brewer’s store and conducted by the late H.M Armstrong and Captain Henry.
Early in the 70s a small building was erected close to where a bakery used to stand.
A non-denominational Sunday school was started, Mrs Paul Joske and her daughters (who later became Mrs Jones and Mrs Dixon) doing all in their power to impart Christian instruction to children.
The selection of Suva as the capital brought about an important change and in 1880 government officials began to arrive and the population of early Suva increased.
In 1882, the Rev T Poole, curate to the Rev W Floyd, stationed on the Rewa River, held services occasionally.
In 1883, the Sunday school was formally taken over and removed to the immigration office.
The first regular meeting of church members was held in Suva in September, 1881, when Mr Floyd presided.
Mr Thompson of McEwan and Co. had offered a piece of land for a site and the gift was thankfully accepted. September 26, 1881, may be considered as the birthday of the church as a distinct organisation.
Arrangements were made by Mr Poole to hold services and future prospects were in every way hopeful. In 1882, the church building was in need of repairs and enlargement.
However, when Government refused to lease, it was decided to take no steps in this direction.
Consequently, on April 2, 1882, Mr Floyd held services for the first time in the Chief Justice’s chambers.
After some struggles, the then government promised a substantial subscription towards a new church.
The site given by Messrs McEwan and Co was considered unsuitable and government considered to exchange it for the present site, and the church was built at a cost of 605 pounds.
On July 19, 1886, the Rev J.F Jones arrived in Fiji as incumbent and held his first service in the courthouse on July 25.
On September 12, 1886, the Bishop of Nelson, NZ, arrived in Fiji and the new church was consecrated.
According to The Fiji Times in 1917, the church has been twice wrecked by hurricane while the organ and vestry have been rebuilt.
The Rev R.T Matthews was the last of Fiji’s clergy under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. The second Vicar of Suva was the Rev H Packe, from 1899 to 1906.
The Rev T Eykyn acted as locum tenens in 1890 and the Rev J.F Moran in 1897 and 1988.
The Bishop of Polynesia arrived here on August 3, 1908 and was enthroned in the church.
