Christian Garland Chair, Holy Trinity Support Group http://www.savetrinitychurch.com
Plan to form a public trust for Holy Trinity, Hobart
Holy Trinity Church, Hobart is set to close its doors in two weeks time, on Sunday October 28.
Anglican Bishop John Harrower has not been swayed by the 6500 people who signed the recent petition to save the church, one of the strongest responses to a petition in Tasmanian history. During 2007 he has continuously claimed the Anglican diocese cannot afford to restore the church.
Chairman of the Holy Trinity Support Group, Christian Garland, says the situation is now critical but there is a way forward. “We have proposed that a public, not-for-profit charitable trust be established. The title deed of Holy Trinity and all its historical fittings and furnishings must be transferred into the trust, so that this highly significant heritage place can be preserved. The Tasmanian community does not want to lose any part of Holy Trinity – not one bell, window, plaque or hymn book. If the Anglican leadership isn’t prepared to maintain our people’s church, they should transfer it to an organisation which will take responsibility.”
The Trust Plan was presented to the Holy Trinity Parish Council and to Bishop Harrower last week. It will be considered by the council on Monday night (Oct 15).
The assets of Holy Trinity parish include the Keefer Bequest of $400,000 and property in North Hobart and The Glebe worth $3.5-$4 million. The Trust Plan calls for the Keefer Bequest and some of the properties to also be transferred into the Trust.
“The assets of Holy Trinity have been created through decades of parishioners making generous donations to the church. They did this in the expectation the assets would stay with Holy Trinity in perpetuity” Dr Garland stated.
Two examples of donations are the bequest of Mr Keefer and donation of Mr Houston which was used to purchase two cottages in Church Street and also construct some stained glass windows in the church.
“The $400,000 Bequest would be a great kick-start to a Restoration Appeal. Mr Keefer passed away in 1990 when the church exterior was already showing serious signs of wear and tear. He would be delighted to see it now spent on saving the church” Dr Garland said. “And rental income from the properties would put some backbone into the Trust paying for the operating costs of Holy Trinity, especially insurances and electricity.”
The Trust Plan will enable the church to be opened up for much wider community uses. “We are currently developing a business plan in keeping with the traditions and history of Holy Trinity. The general public have given us all sorts of ideas about dignified activities for which the church can be used.” Apart from more weddings and concerts, Dr Garland did not describe the possible activities any further, saying they were under wraps. However he did exclude a restaurant and B&B accommodation as highly inappropriate, given the Christian heritage of the place.
Under the Trust Plan, worship services on Sundays and special occasions would be resumed.
Dr Garland said government agencies and private benefactors would be much more likely to contribute funds for restoration if a charitable Trust was formed. “Publicly and privately, senior politicians have expressed their disappointment that Bishop Harrower and the Anglican Diocese have not tried much harder in 2007 to save the church by applying for funding and offering to provide their own fair share towards its restoration. Establishing a Holy Trinity Trust is now by far the best option”.
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