Holy Trinity church is believed to be the oldest church in Bermuda and possibly the oldest church building in the western hemisphere. Historians believe there was a church on the present site prior to 1670, built of stone with a palmetto thatched roof, with subsequent alterations merely adding to this earlier structure.
Throughout its long history, the church was most often referred to as “Hamilton Parish Church.” It was re-consecrated by Bishop John Inglis on April 25, 1826, and although the Bermuda Gazette at the time recorded its name as “St. Andrew’s”, Bishop Inglis’ diary is clear that the name was “Trinity”. The church survived the great hurricanes in Bermuda of 1712 and 1716, records showing that only the roof was destroyed. It was then replaced with a roof of Bermuda stone. The church was again severely damaged in 1777, and received another tremendous battering in 1785 by a vicious storm during which the earliest records were destroyed.
Although many improvements to the building were carried out in the 18th and early 19th centuries, it wasn’t until 1834 that the first major structural alterations were made. In that year, the south porch was added, and ten years later, in 1844, the church was extended by 25 feet to the west. The chancel was enlarged in 1892/93; the tower and spire, with a new bell, were added in 1895; the west porch was added in 1899; and in 1910 the addition of the north transept gave the church its present size and cruciform shape.The famous ship-knee beams used in the construction of the roof, and the construction of the doors, are a memorial to the sea-faring men who fashioned them.
The church is said to have the most beautiful stained glass windows in Bermuda. There are 28 in all, and all have been installed since the 1890s. Of particular note, are five beautiful windows, designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, a most famous Pre-Raphaelite artist who designed for William Morris and Company, probably the best known of the English workshops producing stained glass at the time. These particular windows have been described by experts as probably the best collection of Burne-Jones windows anywhere in the world today.
The church is accessible by car, taxi or bus. Bus routes include the #3, #10 and #11. The closest bus stops are the junction of Harrington Sound Road and Wilkinson Avenue, and on North Shore Road the stop is virtually opposite the entrance to Trinity Church Road. It's a 5 minute walk to reach the church from either direction.