The church was designed by Archibald Simpson, a noted architect in the Aberdeenshire area, and built 1843-1845. The narrow, acutely pointed windows of the façade, though, are early English in style with a prominent 3-stage angle-buttressed tower to the front.
The ogee, double curvature opening in the spire, the ogee moulding round the tower, and the leafy concrescences that crown the corner pinnacles of the tower parapet indicate the influence of the Decorated.
The church was 96 feet long by 48 feet wide and had five spacious windows on each side
The Central entrance tower (north) was a 3-bay, 3-storey symmetrical elevation with a 2-leaf timber door set in a pointed-arch reveal. There was a large bipartite cusped window at the 2nd stage and a large louvred bipartite window above surmounted by an octagonal spire.
The Church clock came from the former Reformed Presbyterian (Cameronian) Church in Rothesay (formed 1820) whose members acceded to Trinity in 1875.
In August 1907 the roof of the church collapsed without warning. Fortunately no one was in the church at the time. Within a year the building was re-roofed and with improved facilities, wider pews with no doors as before, and the present pulpit replacing an older fashioned one.
The Interior had a broad nave with an open hammer beam roof, boarded dados and galleried North end. There was an impressive double-stair in the vestibule with a cast-iron foliate balustrade and roll-moulded timber handrail. The timber pews had fleur-de-lys finials. The gallery was supported by simple Doric columns and inset with blind-traceried panelling.
There was a tiered pulpit with bowed centre and quatrefoil and pointed-arch carved details. It had flanking balustraded stairs with timber handrails and carved timber newels.
Stained Glass Windows
The central window was the First World War Memorial, designed by Mr Oscar Peterson of Glasgow, with the words of dedication – “To the Glory of God and to honour our members who suffered and served in the Great War 1914 – 1919”.
The top part of the middle portion portrayed the Glorified Christ and showed behind Him the symbol of His triumph on the Cross. Two angels kneel adoring at his feet, and seraphim look upon His face. Above, and typified as a dove, the Spirit of God broods tranquilly.
The lower part of this window set out the mystic scene described in the Revelation of John, chapter19 verses 11 – 16. It depicts the Word of God, Faithful and True, mounted on a white horse and wearing a blood red robe, on which is emblazoned “King of kings and Lord of lords” with a crown of thorns adorning the conqueror’s brow.
The window to the side of the middle portion portrayed a wounded soldier amid the ruins of war with his eyes uplifted and his arms upraised to an angel as she comes to him with a golden crown in her hands. The accompanying message was “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” On the other side, the window had for its theme the victorious warrior safe at home at last. In pleasant and peaceful surroundings, ‘mid pastures green and beside still waters and with his dwelling place nearby, the garland of his victory was being bestowed upon him. The writing beneath was simply “I have fought a good fight”.
The topmost parts of these two side central windows had representative saints of old depicted, with St Andrew at the forefront on one and St George on the other. There were seven saints, seven being considered a sign of felicity. Running through the heart of the whole window was the Rainbow of Promise.
The memorial for the Second World War was on the east side of the church. The stained glass window by Gordon Webster of Glasgow depicted, on the left side, Cain’s brutal attack on his brother Abel with the altar for the offerings which brought Cain’s jealousy to erupt in bloodshed. On the right side, a group joined by a soldier in uniform at the foot of Calvary Hill looking up to the three crosses, to “Jesus as the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12 v24). Intriguing details included a pelican depicting sacrifice in dark days and a phoenix as resurrection from the ashes. Pictures of a submarine, depot ship and landing craft symbolised the part Rothesay and Bute played in the Second World War with members of the Royal Navy and Commandos training here. At the top of the window there was a Communion cup giving a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice of His body and blood for the peace and salvation of the world.
On the opposite side of the church (west side) was the Munn window with the inscription “To the Memory of Provost Munn and his family, who loved to worship in this House”.
The Munn family had a long and close connection with the congregation, although all eventually emigrated Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, where they were pioneers in the fishing industry.
The upper part of the window showed Jesus, serene and erect in the storm-tossed little boat. His disciples had wakened Him from sleep as they feared perishing. It bore the words from the Scripture narrative “He rose and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea ‘Peace : be still’” The lower portion of the window portrayed the story enshrined in the Second Letter of John, with the lady elect and her children distributing food to the poor.
Trinity Church was one of the earliest Disruption Free Kirks following the signing of the Deed of Demission in May 1843 whereby 474 ministers broke away from the Church of Scotland to form the Free Church.
The first minister in this building was the Rev Robert Craig who on the first Sunday of June 1843 had left the established Rothesay Parish Church (High Kirk) with most of the elders and congregation at the time of the Disruption. They left, like many others across the country, in protest at interference by the State in the affairs of the Church of Scotland and in particular in the right of congregations to call the minister of their choice. This secession took the name The Free Church of Scotland. The first name of the congregation was Rothesay East Free Church, since a sister congregation had been formed to call themselves the West Free Church, but in 1844 chose the name of Rothesay Free Parish Church.
In 1900 the congregation became Rothesay United Free Parish when the Free Church of Scotland united with the United Presbyterian Church to form the United Free Church.
In 1929 the congregation joined in the union of the United Free Church of Scotland with the Church of Scotland and took the name of Trinity Church.
In 1938 the congregation was united with St James’ Church (the building being on the High Street opposite the present Police Station). St James Church roots went back to the Free Gaelic Church, later to become Chapelhill Free Church.
In 1942 the congregation united with Craigmore High Church.
In 1979 the congregation united with the West Church.
In 2024 the congregation united with the United Church of Bute and moved out of this building. It is in the process of being sold.