Trinity Church has probably the most distinctive style of architecture among the churches of the City of Perth, which are predominantly in the Gothic idiom. Trinity is of American Romanesque style and was designed by architect Henry S. Trigg ARVIA and built in 1893 in the heady days of the goldrush when architects emigrated to the West to find work. Trigg was the first locally trained architect to practise in the West. The Church is the third to be built on this site. The second still stands behind the present church, serving as a hall. It is classified by the National Trust and was built at around the same time as the Barracks Arch and the Town Hall, of similar brickwork. The main facade of the church incorporates twin flanking towers capped by octagonal spires roofed in slate, a rose window and large entrance portal. The interior is of note for its galleries and their cast iron balustrading and stained glass by Ashwin of Sydney.
The organ was built by William Hill & Son and Norman & Beard Ltd of London in 1929 and is the second organ to be placed in the church. The original was a Norman & Beard organ of 1892 now at St Patrick's Church, Mt Lawley. The instrument is comparable in size with the contemporary and intact Hill, Norman & Beard instrument at St Peter's Anglican Church, Ballarat, Victoria. The casework, of three broad flats with finely carved pipeshades, is of fine quality and likely to have been designed by Philip Selfe, of the organbuilding firm.
The organ was restored in 1963 without alteration by Paul F. Hufner. Further mechanical refurbishment, with tonal additions, took place in 1993 by F.J. Larner and Co. The original "Christie style" coupler and combination mechanisms are stored within the church. The overall Hill, Norman & Beard sound, of great boldness, and delightful softer colours and reeds, has been preserved.
GREAT
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Dulciana
Principal
Orchestral Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Fourniture
Trumpet
CHOIR
Claribel Flute
Viole d'Orchestre
Flauto Traverso
Cornet
Clarinet
Trumpet
SWELL
Bourdon
Open Diapason
Lieblich Gedackt
Salicional
Unda Maris
Gemshorn
Mixture
Horn
Oboe
PEDAL
Open Diapason
Bourdon
Bass Flute
Dulciana
Dulcet
Trombone
Trumpet
|
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
IV
8
8
8
4
III
8
8
16
8
8
8
8
4
III
8
8
16
16
8
8
4
16
8
|
A
*
*
B
*
B
TC
C
C
A *
A *
B *
B *
|
* 1993 additions
Compass: 61/30
11 couplers
Electro–pneumatic action
Detached drawknob console; ivory keyboards and drawknobs
• Ian Molyneux, Looking around Perth: a guide to the architecture of Perth
and surrounding towns. East Fremantle: Wescolour Press, 1981, p.19.
