Holy Trinity, Benalla

One of my many photographic interests is motorsport. As motorsport events have been curtailed for several years due to the pandemic I was pleased to be able to attend the Historic Race Meeting at the Winton (Victoria) track in May just passed.

I travelled to Benalla early so that I would have time to photograph Holy Trinity Benalla for possible calendar inclusion. As is so often the case when visiting churches on an opportunity basis, I had good luck regarding access, as the Vicar and a parishioner were busy preparing the Sanctuary for a service and were very happy to see me.

The Vicar, Right Rev’d Dino Gabriel, has an interesting CV. Italian born, he moved to South Africa in 1987 as a Roman Catholic priest and missionary. In 1992, he converted to the Anglican faith, becoming Bishop of Zululand and later of Natal. He retired from his South African ministry and accepted the position of parish priest at Benalla, arriving here in November 2021.

Holy Trinity is a beautiful brick church with an interesting timber tower and a fine selection of stained glass windows. The altar was beautifully dressed when I arrived and was eagerly photographed.

After taking the images intended for the calendar I was able to photograph various items in the church including some of the stained glass. The window showing Christ the carpenter is in a small chapel on the south side of the church and an attractive statuette of a crowned and seated Madonna with Christ on her knee.

I was intrigued to find a frog on the ground at Mary’s feet. The significance of this escapes me but no doubt a comment on this post will reveal the significance. This statuette is on the North wall close to the sanctuary.