24°51′07″N 67°01′48″E / 24.852°N 67.030°E
Holy Trinity Cathedral | |
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![]() Holy Trinity Cathedral, Karachi | |
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Location | Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi |
Country | Pakistan |
Denomination | Anglican |
History | |
Founded | 1844 |
Founder(s) | British military |
Dedication | 1855 |
Associated people | Capt. John Hill (Bombay Engineers), architect |
Architecture | |
Architectural type | Gothic |
Administration | |
Archdiocese | Diocese of Karachi |
Holy Trinity Cathedral is the seat of the Church of Pakistan, Diocese of Karachi, [1] situated on Fatima Jinnah Road, near Zainab Market, in Karachi, Pakistan.
Established in 1844 [2] and built in 1855, the Holy Trinity Church located on Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi, is one of the first major churches [3] built in the area. Designed by the Captain of the Bombay Engineers, John Hill, [4] the church had a nave stretching 115 feet, followed by a tower [5] standing at 150 feet tall. The church was built with buff colored Gizri stone and the architectural design made it unique. The church followed a Romanesque [6] layout which made it stand out compared to the buildings located around. At the top of the tower, since there were no lighthouses, it was given beacons to help ships [7] in the Karachi Harbour. In 1904, Captain John Hill and Chief Engineer John Brunton, reviewed the cathedral and found that the foundation was showing signs of weakness and removed [8] the top two stories, giving the tower a new height of 115 feet. During World War I, the churches tower was used as a signaling [9] station, and soon in 1970 the pitched roof from the original design was replaced with barrel vaulted roof.[ citation needed] Since the church is a former garrison church for the British military, it was designed to accommodate 800 worshipers [10] and memorialize British servicemen who died in various campaigns [11] and their history.