Modern in historical terms, the Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland is the world’s only example of Pacific Gothic architectural style. Unique stained glass windows, impressive choral acoustics, and cultural performances attract visitors to this active place of worship and learning in the heart of Parnell, Auckland’s oldest neighbourhood.
We were warmly welcomed upon arrival. Entering from Parnell Road, we stood in the cathedral’s centre. Modern stained glass windows lining the nave’s walls to my left tell the Christian story with both traditional and Polynesian designs. They stand in sharp contrast to the neo-Gothic archways in the chancel to my right.
Both sections project Holy Trinity Cathedral’s mission statement: Living God’s Love: Welcoming, Worshipping, Nourishing, Empowering.
Let’s explore Holy Trinity Cathedral a little closer.
The stained glass
While everything about this cathedral is impressive, it is the great window at the back of the nave that captivates the imagination. Designed by Nigel Brown, it features a Polynesian Christ surrounded by vividly coloured Pacific motifs on what is said to be the southern hemisphere’s largest expanse of stained glass.
Along the east and west walls of the nave are 18 windows that pictorially tell the story of God’s redeeming actions with his people using both historic and New Zealand symbolism. Dedicated in 2004, the modern windows are both an effective storytelling method and a magnificent decor drawing thousands of tourists annually.
Download a detailed description of each of the windows.
The acoustics of Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland
The acoustics seem perfect, and we happened upon a choir rehearsal on one visit. I could have listened forever as the melodic tones echoed off of the walls and the passion of the voices invited us in.
A newly commissioned Cathedral organ, completed in 2017, compliments the acoustics. Imagine the rich and magnificent sound produced by 5,432 pipes.
Taking advantage of the acoustics, schools and professionals frequently have concerts at the cathedral. Brooke Fraser, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga have each performed there in the past.
Holy Trinity Cathedral Exterior
Saint Mary’s parish church in the Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland complex
Just outside of the main cathedral stands Saint Mary’s church. Regarded as one of the finest wooden gothic buildings in the world, it dates back to 1886. When built, it was a parish church and the pro-cathedral for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland.
Native kauri wood covers Saint Mary’s well-maintained interior. Small in comparison to Holy Trinity, with a seating capacity of 550, it is one of New Zealand’s larger wooden churches.
Interestingly, it is not in its original location. It joined the Holy Trinity Cathedral complex in 1982 when it was moved in one piece from across the road.
Getting to Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland
- Holy Trinity Cathedral is located at the corner of St Stephens Avenue and Parnell Road in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Access to their large car park is from Brighton Road or Parnell Road. Note that parking is free only for those attending Sunday services. There are pay and display metres for other times, including events, weddings, and funerals.
- City bus options include both the green Inner Link and orange Outer Link buses that stop right outside the cathedral, or the 703, which requires a short walk. Similarly, it is a short walk from the Parnell railway station. You can use the free journey planner from Auckland transport to get directions via public transportation.
- If you are a visitor to the city and ready for some exploration, the Auckland Hop on Hop off Explorer bus also stops at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Practical information on visiting the Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland:
- There are services every Sunday-Friday. The official time schedule is here.
- The cathedral is the spiritual centre for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland.
- Over 100,000 people visit the cathedral annually.
- If you are there in late spring or summer, visit the nearby Parnell Rose Gardens.
- A visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the 75 free and nearly free things to do in Auckland.
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Zee
I prefer traditional, hands down. My old highschool had a small chapel built in the 1800s, which was an absolute gem. The knowledge of all those that had used the church before us – what it had meant to the community, the weddings and funerals and even just the ordinary services – gave it a depth that a new building simply cannot match.
Rhonda Albom
I love the rich, bright colors of the modern glass.
Jesh StG
Beautiful and stunning! Haven’t seen much modern stained glass art, so this is a treat! Also, I didn’t know I was going to stumble into a photo challenge:)
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Rhonda,
Absolutely beautiful. We have some stunning cathedrals here in Granada, Nicaragua. The city is full of them. Every few blocks you see a new one. Or so it seems. Thanks for the eye-popping images. You rock.
Ryan
Rhonda Albom
I am always impressed by the different styles of cathedrals and churches around the world, both artistic and architectural, yet so many tell the same story. Glad you enjoyed this bit of Pacific-Gothic.
shere
This one is in fact quite different than the European Cathedrals, next time you’re in Europe you should visit the one in Cologne (i’m sure you’ll love it). But I have to admit that is really nice and so bright inside!!
Rhonda Albom
I love the cathedrals in Spain – so many amazing structures.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
Looking at the exterior, I don’t know that I would have been tempted to enter. Your little thumbnail on the linkup grabbed my attention, though. I really like the Polynesian designs incorporated into traditional stained glass. It’s beautiful, and I’m glad you shared it with us.
Rhonda Albom
As part of the Choose-a-Way Auckland book I am writing, I have been exploring a few new spots, this was one of them. Had I not talked to many people and done tons of research, I don’t think I would have gone in. In fact, I never did before when I have walked by.
Chrys Fey
Cathedrals always have the most beautiful architecture and stained glass windows. Whenever I go to one, I always to snap pictures of everything. Those are some great shots!
Rhonda Albom
The photos just don’t capture the magnitude. It is even better live.
Lisa Ross
I love this building. I used to go to Troy’s end of year chapel services here when he was at Diworth. I found it quite moving when the choir sung.
Rhonda Albom
What a wonderful place for any type of service. I can’t believe I hadn’t been here before.
Lexa Cain
Considering it’s modern, they did a really nice job with the decorations, and the pic showing the altar impressed me ’cause of the towering arched roof. That thing’s huge!
Rhonda Albom
You should see it live. I had to walk pretty far back and use a 20mm lens to get the floor to ceiling shot of the altar. Huge is an understatement.
Jennifer (Dr. J)
I love the surprises you find in your own backyard! #wkendtravelinspiration.
Rhonda Albom
Completely agree. I am falling in love with Auckland all over again.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
The Polynesian Christ is quite spectacular, you’re right that you wouldn’t expect to find such an amazing interior when you look at the exterior
Rhonda Albom
I am not sure which is actually considered the front side, but it is even more unassuming from the other side of the big stained glass during the daytime. At night, if the interior is lit the colors and the artwork shine through to the outside. To date I have only seen it in photos, but hopefull I will get up to Parnell on a church service night.
Vicki Green
A beautiful church! In response to your question, although this one is gorgeous, I am still awed by traditional cathedrals, especially the ancient ones that were built by hand before there were power tools.
Rhonda Albom
I agree and also stand in awe of the workmanship that went into some of those old buildings in other parts of the world. New Zealand is such a young country, it is a rare surprise to walk in and find something like Holy Trinity.
Amy
Having worked in Auckland city for many years, yes I know it well, gotta love those stained glass windows 🙂
Rhonda Albom
So you know first hand the overwhelming feeling of being there.
Travelera
Awesome pictures Rhonda! the glass windows are really pretty 🙂
xxx
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Oh my God! What a beautiful Church. These stain glass windows are amazing. I could just sit there all day long. Your comment, “A smaller stained glass window near the center. “, if that is small, what is considered large. I wondered how it felt as you entered the church, with all this beauty around you. Thank you for showing us these wonderous windows Rhonda. I wish I could have seen it by myself but thanks to you my friend, you have allowed me to enjoy it.
Have a wonderful day. See ya
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
LOL Paul, there is too much to see in Auckland to sit all day and stare. However, if you are going to sit for a while try to time it for a choir service. With the acoustics, the musics adds a real magical effect to the place. I am happy to take you around New Zealand until you can get here yourself someday.
Karen
I love stained glass windows. I think I lean towards the traditional, but I like the Polynesian details in this cathedral, very unique!
Rhonda Albom
Normally, I would completely agree and vote for traditional, but then I walked into Holy Trinity and discovered these modern windows to be just as striking.
Corinne
Wow! That was a surprise! Gorgeous windows!
Rhonda Albom
Amazing what you can find in your own town when you go looking.
LuAnn Braley
Stunning stained glass! I made a new board on Pinterest (“Gotta Go There”) just for this post!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – whatever brings you to New Zealand can only be good!. What is the link to your board, I want to follow it.
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo
Those stained glass windows are gorgeous and so different to traditional old ones in Europe. I think it’s great that the Pacific culture is represented.
Rhonda Albom
It was a really fun find. I had heard it was lovely, but didn’t really know what to expect when I ventured in.
Barbara Radisavljevic
Those are stunning photos that show how church art has changed over the centuries. Thanks for sharing your discoveries.
Rhonda Albom
I love the combination of the old and new styles, like modern stained glass and Pacific influenced religious art.
Joyce
The stained glass is beautiful.
Rhonda Albom
So vivid and coloful.
Paula McInerney
That is a new one for me, Pacific Gothic but I like it. The stained glass is amazing, vivid and bright while telling a story.
Rhonda Albom
It’s a new one for everyone, created here in New Zealand. It’s a pretty cool place, another spot I will take you to when you finally get to Auckland.
Lydia C. Lee
St Mary’s is super cute!! What lovely stained glass
Rhonda Albom
I know, I hope that next time I visit I will be able to get inside. It closed right at 5pm.
Indah Nuria Savitri
wooow…the stained glass window is truly amazing..it reminds me of one of the old church back home in Semarang, Indonesia. I have been traveling around Europe as well while we were living in Geneve ans we kinda miss it now. NYC is different 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Before my visit, I thought of stained glass as always being old. These modern images are wonderful, and the colors seem so much richer than much of the old glass we saw in Europe.
Comedy Plus
I like the traditional far better than the modern. Far better. What a jewel and it’s right in your back yard so to speak.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
I would have said the same before seeing this. Now I have a place in my heart for the modern also.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor
How neat that you went inside! I love the stained glass – gorgeous!
Rhonda Albom
Did you ever go inside? They are quite welcoming.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – what an amazing place – stunning glass windows … and I see it is really modern, being only about 25 years old. It’s wonderful how as the population increased new churches, chapels etc were built. I hope you’ll give us an interior view of St Mary’s sometime .. fascinating wooden building. But Holy Trinity with its nod to the Polynesian connections … is a joy to see … and knowing about the Pacific Gothic architectural style was an added nod to the brain.
Fabulous … as you know I’ve written about Canterbury and Durham … I’ve to do Chichester sometime soon … and when I was at school in Oxford
Christchurch Cathedral’s Evensongs were special events to go to … as to the tiny Magdalen College chapel was exquisite … I’d love to visit many others here in the Uk as well as overseas … one day perhaps – New Zealand .. cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
It’s also the designs that make it so modern. Where else would you find so many classic Christian images with a Pacific Island twist. So completely different from the masterpieces we saw all around Europe, yet equally as intriguing.
Stephanie Faris
Oh wow…that is one beautiful cathedral! I’m so glad they allowed you to take photos. I doubt I’ll ever make it to New Zealand, so I’ll have to travel vicariously through you!
Rhonda Albom
I am very glad to share my beautiful adopted city with you 🙂
Tanja
Beautiful stained glass windows! # weekend wanderlust