11 September, 2025

Holy Trinity seeks mediation after departures

Holy Trinity problems ‘won’t just go away’

Representatives of Devonport’s troubled Holy Trinity Anglican parish have met with a mediator, aiming to rebuild after the departure of dozens of parishioners due to changes in direction imposed by new vicar Chris Murphy.
“Vestry [the governing body of the parish] is taking the current circumstances at Holy Trinity seriously and, with the blessing of the Bishop of Auckland, is seeking to address various concerns by appointing a mediator,” the congregation was told in a recent update from church wardens on behalf of the vestry.
The mediator would work initially with the vestry and “in time” with the wider church family and community.

“To that end, we met with an independent professional mediator to scope a restorative process with a view to rebuilding foundations and moving forward together with the Parish.”
The communication said: “It is fair to say that for some, the last few months have been an unsettling time. While The Flagstaff [reporting] and other issues have subsided somewhat, certain problems won’t go away simply with the passage of time and need to be addressed, not forgotten about or ignored.”
The “church family” would be informed at regular intervals about progress in the mediation process, and “how best to get involved at the appropriate time”.
More than 60 Holy Trinity members have left amid clashes over Murphy’s style, theology and future plans. Many were substantial financial contributors to the church, which in July faced a $60,000 financial deficit.
Some of the leavers took issue with Murphy’s leadership style, his move away from parish outreach and a more traditional interpretation of biblical scripture.