The Garrison Church was planned at a meeting convened by Reverend William Cowper in December 1839[5] because the seating capacity at the nearby St Philip's Church had been outgrown by the congregation.[6] Cowper made a significant contribution to funding the church, stipulating that it be named "The Holy Trinity".[7] The land was granted for the church and associated schoolhouse by George Gipps.[5][8] The foundation stone was laid by Bishop William Broughton[6] on 23 June 1840.[9] At the foundation service the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Broughton concluded his address "expressing his belief that those present would not only avail themselves of the building about to be erected for perpetuating the true worship of the true God, but also expressing his fervent wishes that the building might for generations be devoted to the purposes for which it was to be constructed."[10] The Garrison Church was one of nine or ten churches under construction at the time, projects considered by the Sydney Morning Herald at the time to "clearly prove ... still Religion and Morality are rapidly advancing amongst us".[11]
