The beginnings of establishing an Anglican Parish in Lyttelton originated in England with the forming of the Canterbury Association and the proposal that the area should become an Anglican settlement. The Parish dates from the arrival of the Canterbury Pilgrims in 1850.

The first church was designed by Benjamin Mountford and appears to have been built on the site of the present vicarage. It was completed in nine months and was consecrated in January 1853, but then abandoned after only six months use as it was found to be structurally unsound, having been built of green totara and rimu timber.

When it was demolished in 1857 some of the timber was saved and it formed the interior roof lining of the present church. Today we find the collapsed walls were originally supporting this structure and the only remaining Benjamin Mountford design is the pulpit donated by the Ladies committee in 1885.

Holy Trinity was the oldest stone church in Canterbury. It was constructed of red porphyry, a volcanic stone from the Sumner Road Quarry. Unfortunately it was very porus and inclined to deteriorate as seen over the past century. The side walls were about ten feet high and two feet thick. The angles of the walls, buttresses, door jambs and window frames are of sandstone from Quail Island. The roof was originally shingled, but these were covered over with iron in 1884 and finally taken down in the 1970’s when the roof was restored with long run iron.

Various articles brought out in 1850 on the “First Four Ships” are still in the Parish’s possession to this day, they are; Three chalices and patens, two Glastonbury sanctuary chairs, a wrought iron alms box, a lectern bible, several prayer books, and possibly the credence table. The four large parchment tables showing “The Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer and the Creed” are still in storage at the McDougall Art Gallery building and they will be restored over a period of time.  Finally there is the Church bell which along with the belfry has been taken down from the building and will remain on the church lawn until demolition takes place.

The organ built in England by Gray and Davidson was erected in 1865 and remains within the building with wrap around it to keep it secure from elements, its future is at present under negotiation.

The beautiful 1860 Corona, which is the best example of Victorian brass work in New Zealand, originally holding 40 candles but electrified in 1924, has had its 610 pieces of hand-wrought brass unscrewed and has gone into storage along with the Altar.

There is just so much history in this church which has been preserved and although many Lyttelton residents may not be regular worshippers, or in fact even Anglicans, they continue to be very protective of this historic landmark in the community and therefore, serious decisions and conclusions have to be made for the near future.

Since the June 13 earthquake the church building has completely collapsed. It is hoped much of the beautiful totara and kauri timbers can be salvaged along with any other valuable items which remain.