The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is the church of the Anglican diocese of Europe and the Church of the Royal Navy in Gibraltar.
When Britain took over Gibraltar in 1704 there were about twenty churches, chapels and convents in existence. Of these only two were retained for religious purposes, The Church of Saint Mary the Crowned for the use of the inhabitants, and the King's Chapel, which was used as a garrison church. Anglicans found nowhere to worship, they could be baptised and married at the Chapel when it was not being used for military purposes, and was not large enough to accomodate the famillies of the Garrison.

Sir George Don, the Lieutenant Governor called a meeting in 1819 to consider 'the means most eligible' for building a church.
The subject was still under discussion on the arrival, as Governor, of Lord Chatham, he prevailed to the Government to sell a derelict building in Irish Town, which had originally been a monastery and later a naval storehouse.

Building began in 1825, in the Moorish style, considered most suitable by the Commanding Royal Engineer in charge of the work, commemorating the fact that the Moors first landed in Europe at Gibraltar on 711.
*When a terrible epidemic of Yellow Fever broke out in 1928 the building was used as an emergency fever hospital.

The Holy Trinity Church was finished in 1832 and consecrated six years later, in the presence of the Dowager Queen Adelaide. It was raised to Cathedral status in 1842 with the creation of the Diocese of Gibraltar, which includes all Anglican chaplaincies from Portugal to the Caspian sea.

The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe was inaugurated at a service in this Cathedral in January 1981. The new diocese includes the former Diocese of Gibraltar together with the Jurisdiction of North and Central Europe.

There have been two organs in the Cathedral, the first was built in 1842 on a purpose built wooden gallery, high on the west wall. This organ was subsequently moved to the Lady Chapel. The second organ was built in 1880, in the Lady Chapel, and is still in use to this day. This organ was moved to it's present position on the specially constructed 'musicians' gallery in 1952. The organ underwent extensive rebuilding and total re-modelling in 1992 and the 'Chair' organ was added in 1993.

Between 1862-1864 the walls and ceiling were painted by convict labour, giving rise to the local legend that the Cathedral was built by convicts.

Over the years the Cathedral has collected silverware, bibles and prayer books dating back to the very early days of the building. In 1953 the Governor, General Sir Robert Gardiner, gave two silver-gilt chalices and patens, a flagon and an alms dish, still in use on ceremonial occasions.

The building was illuminated by a six pointed star in gas jets for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, and draped in purple and black for the solemn memorial services which marked the passing of Queen Victoria in 1801.

In 1909 the original brick floor was replaced by the present marble floor.

The only damage suffered by the Cathedral in either World War was in an air-raid on September 1940, when a stick of bombs fell in the area. One buried itself in the road outside the Lady Chapel, and a second lodged in the south wall immediately below a stained glass window, fortunately these failed to explode and where removed intact.

After the war, Bishop Buxton, ninth Bishop of the Diocese, made an appeal for funds, the proceeds of which were to be devoted to improvements to the Cathedral in Gibraltar and the Pro-Cathedral Church of St.Paul in Malta.
With the share of this fund it was decided to build new vestries outside the main building, to move the organ to the 'musician' gallery, beautify the interior and create a second chapel, to be dedicated to St.George, in memory of all those who gave their lives in the Mediterranean area during the war.
While the alterations were at their peak early in 1951 service was held at the Parish Hall, which wa sconverted into a temporary church.

The congregation was about to full service on April 27, 1951, when the Royal Fleet Auxiliary 'Bedenham' blew up, while unloading explosives, and the Cathedral was badly damaged. The three remaining stained glass windows lay in heaps on the floor and the roof had been lifted and moved, fortunately the walls and columns stood and it was possible to erect a new roof before the winter rains set in. After great efforts by everyone concerned the Cathedral was re-opened for worship at Christmas on the same year.

In 1982, the Altar and Communion rails from the Headquarters Chapel of the Missions to Seamen were given to the Cathedral. Two years later, at the time of the closure of Chatham Dockyard, the pews from the Naval Church of St.George were given to the Cathedral. The Cathedral is a large building with excellent accoustics and is often used for musical events of all types.