Church of the Holy Trinity, Berwick-on-Tweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church,Berwick-on-Tweed |
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Holy Trinity Church, Berwick-on-Tweed
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| 55°46′19.04″N 2°0′2.2″W / 55.7719556°N 2.000611°W | |
| Location | Parade, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 1DF |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Berwick Parish Church, Holy Trinity with St. Mary |
| History | |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Consecrated | 1660 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Berwick |
| Deanery | Norham |
| Archdeaconry | Lindisfarne |
| Diocese | Newcastle |
| Province | York |
The Church of the Holy Trinity is a special Church of England parish church located right in the middle of Berwick-upon-Tweed, a town in Northumberland, England. It's quite unique because it was built during the time of the Commonwealth of England, a period when England was a republic without a king.
Contents
History of the Church
Building a Church During Tough Times
In 1641, King Charles I gave money to help build a new church in Berwick. The old one was falling apart. But then, in 1642, the English Civil War started. This was a big fight between the King and Parliament.
Even with the war going on, people kept collecting money. They even used stones from the old Berwick Castle to help build the church. In 1650, a builder named John Young from London was hired. By 1652, the church was finished! This makes it one of the very few churches built during the Commonwealth era.
How the Church Was Designed
The church's design is similar to St Katharine Cree in London. It has a main area called the nave with an aisle on each side. The columns supporting the roof are in a simple style called the Tuscan order.
When it was first built, the church didn't have a chancel (the area near the altar), an altar itself, a organ, a tower, or bells. However, the inside of the church had galleries (like balconies) all around the walls.
Changes Over the Years
In 1660, the monarchy (the kings and queens) returned to England. John Cosin, who was the Bishop of Durham, officially opened the church. He asked for a chancel to be built at the east end for the communion table.
This chancel wasn't added until 1855. At that time, many of the original Gothic-style windows were changed to a more Classical style. The large window at the west end, added in 1855, is especially beautiful. It includes older glass from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Church Organ
A Musical Journey
The church's organ has a long history! The first organ was put in by Byfield and Green of London in 1773. Later, in 1855, it was rebuilt by Nicholson of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1869, another company, Harrison and Harrison, rebuilt it again. They moved the organ to sit on either side of the west window in the west gallery. In 1905, the north and south galleries were removed. Harrison and Harrison then moved the organ to its current spot in a special room next to the chancel.
Restoring the Organ
The organ continued to be used until the early 2000s. At that time, the church bought an electronic organ to use while they raised money to fix the old Harrison organ.
By 2006, enough money was raised to start the restoration. A group was formed to oversee the project. They hired Principal Pipe Organs of York to do the work, which began in 2010. The group worked hard to raise £160,000 for the full restoration and future care of the organ. The restoration is now complete.
The organ used to have three keyboards (manuals) and pedals, but after the restoration, it now has two keyboards and pedals.
Current Use of the Church
A Busy Community Hub
Today, Holy Trinity Church is used for many things. People come for worship services, but it also hosts concerts, musical performances, lectures, and other community events. The church also has a parish centre that is used a lot for meetings and social gatherings.
The Churchyard and Bell
The church building has two small turrets (towers) at its west end. One of these turrets holds a single bell. This bell is rung to call people to church services.
The churchyard around the building used to be the main cemetery for the town. However, by the 1860s, there was no more room for burials. Now, Berwick and its nearby town, Tweedmouth, have their own separate cemeteries. The wooded old churchyard is now a natural nature reserve.
Images for kids
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Inside the nave, looking east to the 19th-century chancel
