Saibai Church receives specialist advice
AHS is proud to have provided heritage advice for the proposed remediation works to Holy Trinity Church on Saibai Island in Torres Strait, Queensland.
In the extreme northeast of Australia, within the Torres Strait Islands, the Sabai Church, also known as the Holy Trinity Church, stands tall – but is in need of remediation works. Australian Heritage Specialists (AHS) was commissioned by the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC), via Informed Architects to undertake an inspection of the church to assess its condition ahead of the repairs.
The Saibai Church holds significance as an example of an early Torres Strait Christian Church, constructed over a period of 19 years by Saibai Islanders and the London Missionary Society. Interestingly, an array of local materials such as burnt coral, mangrove timber, and Wongai plum timber were utilised in its construction, paying homage to the region’s natural resources.
Holy Trinity Church draws its inspiration from Torres Strait architecture, incorporating elements such as locally sourced materials, unreinforced cement footings, and intricate internal details. Beyond its architectural beauty, the church holds profound religious and cultural significance for Torres Strait Christians, the London Missionary Society, and the Anglican Church.
Early missionaries
The origin of Christianity on Saibai Island can be traced back to 1871, when the London Missionary Society first arrived with the aim of spreading faith.
By 1881, the missionaries had constructed an ‘island style building’ to be used as a place of worship. Two more churches were built in its place in the years that followed, before a fourth and final Holy Trinity Church was confirmed.
Construction of the Holy Trinity Church was an arduous process, with three generations of Saibai locals working together to complete the building. The granite foundation stone was laid in 1917 by the Archbishop of Queensland, but it wasn’t until two decades years later that the church was completed and dedicated by the Reverend Stephen Davies, the Bishop of Carpentaria.
Mission Church, Saibai Island, nearing completion in 1934 (JOL, 2024)
Unique design with innovative materials
Holy Trinity Church was built using a blend of timber, cement, and corrugated iron, believed to have been partially salvaged from earlier churches on the island.
The construction reflects traditional techniques and the use of locally available resources, with rather unique methods used, like pouring lime gravel and sand into the mangrove timber framework.
Construction was a collaborative effort with various communities in the Torres Strait Islands coming together. Dauan Islanders helped with the burning of the coral and its transportation to Saibai, while Boigu Islanders provided food for the workers during the monsoon. The wongai timber was brought from the New Guinea mainland, featuring hand carved furnishings.
Early retained furniture includes a cross, two candlesticks, and a lectern stand carved by islanders, as well as the Holy Trinity bell, donated by Thomas Soki, which was installed in the bell tower around the time of World War II. Before the bell was installed, a traditional bu-shell, which uses a native shell, called townspeople to church.
Interior looking towards entry (AHS, 2024)
Remediation to maintain church for future generations
Today, Holy Trinity Church remains an active and integral part of the community on Saibai Island, as a place of worship, cultural heritage, and communal gathering.
The proposed remedial works aim to address various issues such as paint failure, damp problems, structural damage, and deteriorating elements of Holy Trinity Church, ensuring it is preserved for future generations.
It’s all in a day’s work for the experienced AHS team, with recent works in the Torres Strait undertaken on Thursday Island and Horn Island also
Contact us
To discover how we may be able to assist on your next project, contact us today here or phone (07) 3221 0000. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn.
You might also like to read:
The Challenge
The origin of Christianity on Saibai Island can be traced back to 1871, when the London Missionary Society first arrived with the aim of spreading faith.
By 1881, the missionaries had constructed an ‘island style building’ to be used as a place of worship. Two more churches were built in its place in the years that followed, before a fourth and final Holy Trinity Church was confirmed.
Construction of the Holy Trinity Church was an arduous process, with three generations of Saibai locals working together to complete the building. The granite foundation stone was laid in 1917 by the Archbishop of Queensland, but it wasn’t until two decades years later that the church was completed and dedicated by the Reverend Stephen Davies, the Bishop of Carpentaria.
How we helped
Holy Trinity Church was built using a blend of timber, cement, and corrugated iron, believed to have been partially salvaged from earlier churches on the island.
The construction reflects traditional techniques and the use of locally available resources, with rather unique methods used, like pouring lime gravel and sand into the mangrove timber framework.
Construction was a collaborative effort with various communities in the Torres Strait Islands coming together. Dauan Islanders helped with the burning of the coral and its transportation to Saibai, while Boigu Islanders provided food for the workers during the monsoon. The wongai timber was brought from the New Guinea mainland, featuring hand carved furnishings.
Early retained furniture includes a cross, two candlesticks, and a lectern stand carved by islanders, as well as the Holy Trinity bell, donated by Thomas Soki, which was installed in the bell tower around the time of World War II. Before the bell was installed, a traditional bu-shell, which uses a native shell, called townspeople to church.
Results
Today, Holy Trinity Church remains an active and integral part of the community on Saibai Island, as a place of worship, cultural heritage, and communal gathering.
The proposed remedial works aim to address various issues such as paint failure, damp problems, structural damage, and deteriorating elements of Holy Trinity Church, ensuring it is preserved for future generations.
It’s all in a day’s work for the experienced AHS team, with recent works in the Torres Strait undertaken on Thursday Island and Horn Island also
Contact us
To discover how we may be able to assist on your next project, contact us today here or phone (07) 3221 0000. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn.
You might also like to read:
