Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral

In March, James McEwen and Company donated freehold land to the Trustees of the Church of England. The land was on the northern side of Gordon Street (opposite where the present St Andrews Presbyterian Church now stands).

In June, a legal title for an alternative site on the corner of Butt Street and Macarthur Street was obtained with the assistance of the colony’s administrator (Acting Governor, John Bates Thurston). This was because the original site was too close to the Presbyterian Church and during services the choirs were loud enough to disturb one another.  A wooden building was constructed in a similar design to St Andrews.

The building was damaged by a cyclone. A proposal to construct a new chapel made of timber was rejected in favour of a concrete, stone or brick building.

For five years the First World War inhibited the progress of the church building project.

A cathedral committee was established and a fund launched by Bishop Twistchel (First Bishop in Polynesia) to raise 10,000 pounds for the erection of a permanent church.

In July a three-acre site was bought for a sum of 735 pounds on the corner of Holland and Knolly Street.

A residence for the Bishop was built on part of the site.

On 25 January, the first of two foundation stones was laid by the Governor, Sir Harry Luke.

On 25 March, the second foundation stone was laid by the Acting Governor, Mr A. F. R. Stoddart in the East wall, which is now referred to as the Lady Chapel. The architect for this first phase was Mr. C. H. Nettleton, the Government Architect. Whans Construction was engaged to build the cathedral for an estimated cost of 17,280 pounds.

The first phase of the cathedral was completed and was consecrated on the Feast of St Mark.

On 25 April, the consecration ceremony was performed by Bishop Stanley Kempthorne, Bishop of Polynesia. Also in attendance was the Archbishop of New Zealand, the Right Reverend Reginald Owen, and the Archbishop of Sydney, the Right Reverend Howard Mowill.

In May, approval was given for the building of the foundation of the second (Western) stage of the cathedral which would contain the nave and the bell.

The foundation was completed and the temporary west wall was to remain a feature of cathedral for 20 years.

On 17 October, a tender of 98,000 pounds from the firm of Cork Builders was accepted to build a Western extension. The original design for this extension was modified to increase ventilation and light

On 22 May, the Western portion of the building was completed and was dedicated by Bishop John Holland on the eve of the Feast of Ascension