About Holy Trinity, Balaclava
Holy Trinity is a community of people seeking to live the essence of the Holy Trinity in a new era of global consciousness. We have been serving the St Kilda, East St Kilda, Balaclava, Ripponlea and Elwood community for over 140 years.
We seek to be a living, breathing spiritual oasis for a community of love.
Trinity is the defining definition of Christianity while also being the designated name by which our parish is known. It stands as the valuable symbol to shape the life we aspire to: “To love God, and one’s neighbor, as oneself”.
Our church exists to connect people at the level of their hunger for a new world.
A new era of history is evolving and is shaping around an emerging global consciousness: A consciousness that connects us into a more integrated world.
We seek to be a living, breathing spiritual oasis for a community of love.
Trinity is the defining definition of Christianity while also being the designated name by which our parish is known. It stands as the valuable symbol to shape the life we aspire to: “To love God, and one’s neighbor, as oneself”.
Our church exists to connect people at the level of their hunger for a new world.
A new era of history is evolving and is shaping around an emerging global consciousness: A consciousness that connects us into a more integrated world.
Guiding aspects to our lifeThe life of our community is shaped by several core dynamics:
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Our Church
Holy Trinity is set on a triangle that spans Chapel St, Brighton Rd and Dickens St. It sits alongside St Kilda Primary School and faces Brighton Rd. It’s beautiful old sandstone church, built in 1878, is a calm and quiet retreat from the busyness of the world. The natural sandstone is a perfect setting for the lead light windows and acoustics of the traditional organ. Alongside the church, is a red brick church hall built in the late 1800’s that is used mostly for community activities.
Music has been a key part of life at Holy Trinity since its erection in 1878. George W. Torrance was its original Vicar, along with being a reknowned organist and composer. He was born in Dublin in 1835, composed & conducted his first oratorio at 19 and after becoming an ordained deacon in 1865, combined a love of music and god throughout his life. George W. Torrance was Reverand at Holy Trinity from 1878 - 1895. In 1879, he was admitted to the first degree of music at Melbourne University and became an examiner of music teachers to the Education Department in 1888. He was regarded as one of Melbourne's finest composers writing hymns and anthems, a chant book, and many songs and madrigals. In 1888 he formed the choir for the new St Pauls Cathedral, Melbourne, followed soon after by being elected a fellow honoris causa of the Guild of Church Musicians, London.
Rev. George W. Torrance was also a leading humanist, sitting on the first committee of the Victorian Humane Society in 1874. In the 1890's he was prominent in the foundation of the anti-sweating Leage, and was remembered as posessing "much personal charm, and many lovable qualities". He died in 1907 at the age of 72.
Music has been a key part of life at Holy Trinity since its erection in 1878. George W. Torrance was its original Vicar, along with being a reknowned organist and composer. He was born in Dublin in 1835, composed & conducted his first oratorio at 19 and after becoming an ordained deacon in 1865, combined a love of music and god throughout his life. George W. Torrance was Reverand at Holy Trinity from 1878 - 1895. In 1879, he was admitted to the first degree of music at Melbourne University and became an examiner of music teachers to the Education Department in 1888. He was regarded as one of Melbourne's finest composers writing hymns and anthems, a chant book, and many songs and madrigals. In 1888 he formed the choir for the new St Pauls Cathedral, Melbourne, followed soon after by being elected a fellow honoris causa of the Guild of Church Musicians, London.
Rev. George W. Torrance was also a leading humanist, sitting on the first committee of the Victorian Humane Society in 1874. In the 1890's he was prominent in the foundation of the anti-sweating Leage, and was remembered as posessing "much personal charm, and many lovable qualities". He died in 1907 at the age of 72.
Our Building
The Holy Trinity Anglican church, known as Holy Trinity, Balaclava & Elwood, has Victorian Heritage listing for its design, age, freestone structure and Fincham organ. Designed by Joseph Reed, Victoria's leading architects at the time, it was erected in 1882 and "is of interest on account of its circular baptistry and conical roof, unusual circular clerestory windows and apsidal chancel converging on a three-light window " (Victorian Heritage Database Report).
Joseph Reed was a cornishman by birth, and is considered to be the most influential Victorian era architect in Melbourne. The buildings he designed laid the foundations for the grand spaces of the Melbourne that we all know. Amongst many, the buildings include: the State Library of Victoria (1854); The Menzies Hotel (1867); Ripponlea Estate (1868); Melbourne Town Hall (1869), Melbourne Trades Hall (1873), ANZ Gothic Bank, Collins Street (1876); Royal Exhibition Building (1879), Ormond College, Melbourne University (1881).
The churches Reed designed included Collins St Baptist Church (1854); Wesley Church (1857); St Michaels Uniting Church (1866); Carlton Methodist Mission (1870); Scots Church (1873), Holy Trinity, Balaclava (1882); Sacred Heart Church, St Kilda (1891) and the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Carlton (1910).
The Holy Trinity Anglican church was founded and built with the love and passion of many local individuals and families. One of note is Edmund Samuel Parkes, a leading banker at that time described as "the spiritual pillar of the Holy Trinity church at Balaclava". Although a strict displinarian, he was known to have a "large and tender heart" serving on the original committee with his friend F.S. Grimwade. A beautiful leadlight window was placed in the church building to commemorate his life and spirit, after dying after a railway accident between Prahran and Windsor in 1887.
Joseph Reed was a cornishman by birth, and is considered to be the most influential Victorian era architect in Melbourne. The buildings he designed laid the foundations for the grand spaces of the Melbourne that we all know. Amongst many, the buildings include: the State Library of Victoria (1854); The Menzies Hotel (1867); Ripponlea Estate (1868); Melbourne Town Hall (1869), Melbourne Trades Hall (1873), ANZ Gothic Bank, Collins Street (1876); Royal Exhibition Building (1879), Ormond College, Melbourne University (1881).
The churches Reed designed included Collins St Baptist Church (1854); Wesley Church (1857); St Michaels Uniting Church (1866); Carlton Methodist Mission (1870); Scots Church (1873), Holy Trinity, Balaclava (1882); Sacred Heart Church, St Kilda (1891) and the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Carlton (1910).
The Holy Trinity Anglican church was founded and built with the love and passion of many local individuals and families. One of note is Edmund Samuel Parkes, a leading banker at that time described as "the spiritual pillar of the Holy Trinity church at Balaclava". Although a strict displinarian, he was known to have a "large and tender heart" serving on the original committee with his friend F.S. Grimwade. A beautiful leadlight window was placed in the church building to commemorate his life and spirit, after dying after a railway accident between Prahran and Windsor in 1887.
Our Fincham Organ
Our church organ was built in 1883 by George Fincham, Victoria’s pioneering organ-builder. Regarded as a meticulous craftsman, George Fincham only used the highest quality timber, leather, and keyboards, most from within Australia. Amongst many organs designed and built in Victoria, Fincham also designed and built the grand organ installed for the opening of the 1880 Exhibition at the Royal Exhibition Building. At that time, it was considered to be the 18th largest organ in the world.
Reverend, Dr George W. Torrance, who himself was an eminent musician, teamed up with George Fincham to advise on the requirements for the organ for Holy Trinity. As the Reverend of the church, the organ needed to be built to allow him to easily swap between playing the organ and conducting the service. The pipes were placed in a spacious chamber, separate from the console and connected under the floor of the church. The organ was a three-manual with 23 speaking stops with further additions & upgrades done later.
In 1960, the organ was somewhat modernized: electro-pneumatic action was added, a new detached stop key console was put in, the pitch was lowered to standard, and the shutters of the Swell Organ converted to vertical operation. The original pipework, wind-chests, casework and façade survives, however the original console was discarded.
The organ still resonates with magnificent sounds, and continues to be enjoyed by many within our local community, as it has since 1883.
Reverend, Dr George W. Torrance, who himself was an eminent musician, teamed up with George Fincham to advise on the requirements for the organ for Holy Trinity. As the Reverend of the church, the organ needed to be built to allow him to easily swap between playing the organ and conducting the service. The pipes were placed in a spacious chamber, separate from the console and connected under the floor of the church. The organ was a three-manual with 23 speaking stops with further additions & upgrades done later.
In 1960, the organ was somewhat modernized: electro-pneumatic action was added, a new detached stop key console was put in, the pitch was lowered to standard, and the shutters of the Swell Organ converted to vertical operation. The original pipework, wind-chests, casework and façade survives, however the original console was discarded.
The organ still resonates with magnificent sounds, and continues to be enjoyed by many within our local community, as it has since 1883.
ALL CHURCH PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY ROBIN PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
