Chapel

Students, staff and alumni of Trinity College, Janet Clarke Hall and the University of Melbourne have come together to worship in the Chapel with members of the wider community for almost 100 years.

The Chapel of Trinity College and Janet Clarke Hall is an Anglican Church in Trinity College’s grounds at the University of Melbourne. People of all denominations and faiths or none are welcome at Chapel worship.

The College Chaplains, eminent visiting preachers, and members of Trinity and Janet Clarke Hall communities all preach at various services throughout the year.

Chapel services reflect the rich Anglican heritage of Trinity College, but it is not necessary to be an Anglican or a regular worshipper to join in Chapel worship and other activities including:

• Choral Evensong at 6.00pm on Sundays during term

• Holy Communion at 5.30pm on Tuesdays, guided by students from the Residential College.

Staff and students from the University and the wider community join students and staff in Sunday and weekday worship. Students and staff may also join in Chapel activities including bible studies and College retreats.

Each December, the College celebrates Advent with a Festival of nine lessons and carols. Two services are held, one on a Friday and one on a Sunday. All are welcome to attend – RSVP is essential. 

The Chapel is also available for life event ceremonies, including weddings and funerals. Find out more about Events in the Trinity Chapel. 

Worship Services during University Semester period

View the Semester 1 2012 Chapel Schedule

Worship out-of-semester

Sunday Services

The Chapel is open for private prayer on most days from February to December.

Please note that the choirs take a break in January.

Chapel art and architecture

Trinity Chapel was designed by Tasmanian architect Alexander North and built during the second decade of the 20th Century. The building was funded by Melbourne businessman John Sutcliffe Horsfall in memory of his daughter Elizabeth Carington.

North used native timbers, particularly Tasmanian oak, and local materials exclusively throughout the Chapel’s interior. He depicted native flora and fauna in the decorative woodwork, replacing traditional English and Anglican emblems and motifs with depictions of eucalyptus leaves and waratahs in art nouveau style. Carved possums, platypuses and bandicoots attributed to the leading Australian woodcarver Robert Prenzel are depicted on the armrests of the pews.

North designed a wood-carved eagle as a book-rest for the Chapel lectern which was carved by sculptor JJR Tranthim–Fryer. This was presented to the College by the Carse family in memory of Franc Carse who died in action in the First World War.

The Chapel has beautiful stained glass windows and many examples of religious art, including a reproduction of Madonna della Seggiola (c.1865) by an unknown artist, which was presented to the College by Alexander Mollison in about 1880.