As you wander through Oxford taking in historic sites and buildings, Trinity Anglican Church, situated on Highway #59, two miles south of Tavistock on Highway 59 is a must see.

This quaint, country church is one of the first built in the area and is a portal back to 1846 when it began as a mission church. Trinity Church is modelled after the chapels in old England. With its austere exterior and beautiful grounds, it catches your eye as you travel the highway. Many a traveller has longed to stop and enter that they may go back in time to learn the history of this little church in the country.

With the doors open wide for Doors Open Oxford, you are invited to stop in to see a building that reflects in every beam, window and pew, the love and commitment of past members.

As you gaze up to the heavens, you discover that there is no ceiling, but instead you are sheltered from the elements by whip-sawn beams that are almost as smooth as those planed by modern machinery. Such is a wonder as the beams were hewn over 160 years ago. As your eyes drop to take in the rest of the church, the craft displayed in the wainscotting, pews, altar and other furnishings cannot be missed. All has been hand-sawn and planed in a natural finish protected by a light oil coating.

Taking a seat in one of the pews, you look around and see the signs of the humble beginnings of this church. In 1846, the Rev. F. D. Fauquier of Christ Church, Huntingford having emigrated to Canada from England to launch ministries in the area, first gathered with locals in a private home on Lot 28 on Concession 11 of East Zorra. These Sunday gatherings grew and soon they became a congregation in need of a building.

Living by faith and hope for the future of this church, land was acquired at the current site and plans were underway to build this parish. The plans and dreams became evident to the local community in 1847 with the building of a simple log structure measuring 30’ x 20’. Weekly services reflecting the roots of the faith shared with the Church of England and Ireland were now held at 3:00 Sunday afternoons in the new church building. The congregation was duly organized under the Canons of the Church in 1848 when Mr. Caleb Caister and Mr. Alfred Harwood were chosen as wardens.

Being a church in Southwestern Ontario and facing the diverse weather conditions of the area, the people of Trinity constructed a log driving shed in l852. This shed remains standing and over the years has provided shelter for horse and buggy and car alike.

On Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 3, 1859 - vestry members of Trinity met to consider the building of a new church and following a successful campaign for raising funds ($471.00, plus the amount subscribed from friends in England), the tender of Mr. J. Pringle was accepted. For $577.00 he would build the church, and furnish all material required by the plans and specifications of the architect, Mr. Wm. Hay. Construction got underway on Monday, April 23, 1860. Although well intentioned, the builder was unable to complete construction within the six month term, so among the “penalties” for late completion, he was required to provide a rose window.

These humble beginnings of worship and mission carried through the years until Trinity Church became a Chapel of Ease in the Diocese of Huron. The church opened on June 14, 1861, and Bishop Cronyn, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Huron had occasion to attend for its consecration and naming, “Trinity Church”. The congregation gathered the next Sunday and made offerings totalling $13. Not to be missed is the rose window and the stained glass windows behind the altar. The blues, purples and yellows provide a beautiful backdrop for the Agnus Dei symbol. In 1996, the windows were reglazed.

Since 1976, Trinity Chapel of Ease opens twice a year - their anniversary service the third Sunday of June and a decoration service on the second Sunday of August. Church board members include chairperson Dorothy Wilker, secretary-treasurer Frank Bickle, cemetery chairman Bruce Allardyce, cemetery secretary-treasurer Gordon Irwin, as well as Kaye Bickle, Tom Bickle, Marg Pletsch, Bruce Pletsch, Carl Clayton, Bonnie Rowe, and Richard Wilker. Rev. Eleanor Caruana is the current minister.