historyDuring
the early 19th century, when Sicily was briefly a British Protectorate,
the flourishing colony of British Merchants were able to attend Divine
Service
at the British Embassy. After 1814 they had to rely on chaplains from visiting warships.
Only in 1840 were regular Services of the Church of England celebrated in Palermo. They were held in the large painted salon of Palazzo Lampedusa, in Via Butera, the residence of John Goodwin, Consul for Sicily for over 32 years.
When John Goodwin moved to Palazzo Campofranco, the Services were transferred there too. The Services were held in the ballroom, which was hardly suitable because the ceiling was painted with the Triumph of Venus.
Thus, in 1871 Joseph Whitaker and Benjamin Ingham announced their intention of erecting, at their joint expense, a church in which Services of the Church of England could be performed for the spiritual benefit of their protestant countrymen, whether resident or visiting Palermo
Benjamin Ingham Jr. donated the land in front of Palazzo Ingham ( now Hotel delle Palme) to be used as the site for the new church.
However, Bejamin Ingham Jr. died in 1872 before the work on the church started but his widow Emily Ingham continued the good work and later in 1872 building commenced and the foundations were laid. All the expenses of the building being paid for by the Ingham and Whitaker families.
On 19th December 1875 the Church was opened for Divine Worship
The church was designed by Mr. William Barber, assisted later by Henry Christian, Joseph Whitaker’s son-in-law. The organ was made by Walker’s of London, it was first played in October 1903 and to celebrate its centenary it was rebuilt in 2003.
.On the death of Joseph Whitaker the entire interest and patronage of the Church passed to his son, Joshua Whitaker who dedicated himself to the administration.
On the death of Joshua Whitaker in 1926 the trusteeship of this Church passed to his brother and then subsequently to his niece Delia, who in 1962 as the last surviving Trustee, gave the Church to the Gibraltar Diocesan Trust.
During the 2nd World War, after the invasion of Sicily in 1943, the Church was used by the U.S. Forces. In the register of services there are notes which show that, on several occasions, General Patton was present. There is a memorial in the Church, given by General Patton, commemorating those Americans killed in Sicily at that time.
at the British Embassy. After 1814 they had to rely on chaplains from visiting warships.
Only in 1840 were regular Services of the Church of England celebrated in Palermo. They were held in the large painted salon of Palazzo Lampedusa, in Via Butera, the residence of John Goodwin, Consul for Sicily for over 32 years.
When John Goodwin moved to Palazzo Campofranco, the Services were transferred there too. The Services were held in the ballroom, which was hardly suitable because the ceiling was painted with the Triumph of Venus.
Thus, in 1871 Joseph Whitaker and Benjamin Ingham announced their intention of erecting, at their joint expense, a church in which Services of the Church of England could be performed for the spiritual benefit of their protestant countrymen, whether resident or visiting Palermo
Benjamin Ingham Jr. donated the land in front of Palazzo Ingham ( now Hotel delle Palme) to be used as the site for the new church.
However, Bejamin Ingham Jr. died in 1872 before the work on the church started but his widow Emily Ingham continued the good work and later in 1872 building commenced and the foundations were laid. All the expenses of the building being paid for by the Ingham and Whitaker families.
On 19th December 1875 the Church was opened for Divine Worship
The church was designed by Mr. William Barber, assisted later by Henry Christian, Joseph Whitaker’s son-in-law. The organ was made by Walker’s of London, it was first played in October 1903 and to celebrate its centenary it was rebuilt in 2003.
.On the death of Joseph Whitaker the entire interest and patronage of the Church passed to his son, Joshua Whitaker who dedicated himself to the administration.
On the death of Joshua Whitaker in 1926 the trusteeship of this Church passed to his brother and then subsequently to his niece Delia, who in 1962 as the last surviving Trustee, gave the Church to the Gibraltar Diocesan Trust.
During the 2nd World War, after the invasion of Sicily in 1943, the Church was used by the U.S. Forces. In the register of services there are notes which show that, on several occasions, General Patton was present. There is a memorial in the Church, given by General Patton, commemorating those Americans killed in Sicily at that time.