Holy Trinity Church is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year.

Constructed in 1623, it boasts an impressive history of heritage and community as a “parish church” in the heart of Hamilton Parish.

“For me, a parish church means that it’s not just a church for the people who happen to attend, but it’s the church for the parish,” said the Reverend Canon John Stow, the rector of Holy Trinity.

“Particularly with the graveyard … I think that’s what makes it a parish church because there are literally thousands of people who will think of Holy Trinity Church as a special place because they have their forebears, ancestors, and loved ones buried in the graveyard.”

He continued: “Whatever religion or faith they have, they still look to the parish church – not so much in terms of where they belong in church fellowship – but as a special place that is part of their heritage.”

Being priest-in-charge of a church that has such strong history comes with such “a feeling of gratitude”, Canon Stow said.

“Lots of things in the world have been going on for 400 years – good things – and then fold, pack in or finish, and times change.

“I don’t want to be complacent when I say I’m really grateful and I feel really privileged, because actually it is the present and the future that counts.”

His hope is that the church has a continued impact on the community in the years to come.

Holy Trinity has spent the past three years planning celebrations to mark its anniversary milestone.

An April art exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts curated by Vaughn Evans celebrated “the life and history of a parish but in the context of the whole island, and of course how world history impacted on Bermuda”.

A Flower and Music Festival coordinated by church member Andrea McKey, ran from June 2 to 4.

The flower arrangements were contributed with the help of the Garden Club of Bermuda. The festival was also a way for Holy Trinity to honour the late Sally Gibbons who had organised the flowers for the church for years.

“To draw it back to the festival that we just had, the thing that came out of it for me was the friendships; they could just be acquaintances or really deep friendships where people come up to you and you share a deep conversation that, although may not be life-changing, you feel that you struck a chord and there is something there. So we had all of that over that weekend,” said Canon Stow.

“It’s that kind of refreshing and re-establishing friendships which is so important in the community, because there are always things that life comes up with, so any opportunity we have to forge those kinds of friendships [is wonderful].”

During a service at Holy Trinity on June 4, the Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, Bishop of Bermuda, blessed a new icon donated to the church to mark its milestone.

Canon Stow said: “The icon of the Holy Trinity was written by Carol Henderson after the 15th-century original, attributed to Andrei Rublev. This new icon was recently donated to Canon John Stow for Holy Trinity Church, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, by Carol’s friend Jackie Breakspear.”

As the church prepared for the celebrations this year, the church underwent repairs.

“It is nice to think that we got the church building in shipshape for the future, but of course far more important is the people,” said Canon Stow.

“The fact that the celebrations throughout the year have brought people together just gives us confidence that whatever the future will throw at us, we will have a part to play, and we want it to be a part for good.”

He added: “The church believes that God is like a community. If God is love, then that is something which God shares. It’s not just God over here doing His own thing, but God is here. And every time that we love and see a community in action, that’s the Holy Spirit at work. This is my view. God and the Holy Spirit are 24/7. This is why we need to do things like celebrate heritage, because it brings people together.”

Celebrations at Holy Trinity will resume in November with a festival of family heritage.

Most of the artwork from the April exhibition at BSoA is now on display in the church hall at Holy Trinity Church and will remain there for the summer. The hall is open from 9am to noon daily every weekday except Thursdays.