Holy Trinity Church, Dunoon

In 1846, Revd. Henry George Pirie[3] began holding services for the Scottish Episcopalians of the town and district in a hall in the town centre. They began to raise funds for their own church building. One of the donors was William Gladstone, future British Prime Minister.[4]

The following year, after the granting of a site near the ancient Celtic St Bride well, a church design was commissions from Edinburgh architect John Henderson. The first stone of the church was laid under the altar on 31 March, 1849. Blessed by the Right Revd. Alexander Ewing, the new Bishop of Argyll, Holy Trinity was consecrated and opened for worship "according to the rites and ceremonies of the Scottish Episcopal Church" on 11 September, 1850.[4]

By the 1890s, the church was deemed too small for its summer congregation. In 1894, architect Alexander Ross, of Inverness, was asked to draw up plans to extend the church. The result was the nave being increased in size to the west by almost a third. A large western porch (narthex) and the tower and bells were added over the following few years.[4]

Electric heating and lighting were installed in the mid to late 20th century. The lighting was partly paid for and installed, for Christmas 1944, by the naval personnel stationed on HMS Curlew, the Clyde submarine defence base in Innellan.[4]

Stained glass was added over the years, and a new pipe organ was bought in 1882. This was replaced by an electric organ in the late 20th century. The church's sanctuary was remodelled around 1950.[4]

A major conservation project was undertaken in 2013, largely funded by the Heritage Lottery and Historic Scotland.[4]

Holy Trinity Church has had over twenty rectors in its history.[4]

There are monuments to Alexander Reid, a notable figure in the history of Scottish art, and Sir Francis Powell, the Scottish watercolourist.[4][5]

• List of listed buildings in Dunoon

• Official website