Holy Trinity Church, Bothenhampton facts for kids
Holy Trinity Church is a Church of England parish church located in Bothenhampton, a village near Bridport in Dorset, England. It was designed and built by a famous English architect named Edward Schroeder Prior between 1887 and 1889. Prior was known for his work in the Arts and Crafts movement, a style that focused on handmade quality and natural materials. This church is considered a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historical building.
Contents
Building a New Church in Bothenhampton
By the late 1800s, the old church in Bothenhampton, which was built in the 1400s, was falling apart. It was also too small for everyone who wanted to attend services. So, people decided to build a new church.
Who Paid for the New Church?
The new church was paid for by J. P. F. Grundy, who was a director of the West Bay Building Company. Many other people also donated money, and some gave large anonymous gifts to help fund the project.
Edward Prior's First Church Design
Holy Trinity Church was the very first church that Edward Prior designed. He spent a lot of time studying other local churches. He wanted to create a building that was perfect for its religious purpose. Prior used local materials and made sure everything was built with great skill. He also designed the furniture and decorations inside the church, so everything matched perfectly.
Choosing the Church's Location
The church is built on a hill overlooking the River Bride valley. This spot is very open to strong winds from the west and southwest, especially since it's only about a mile from the coast. You reach the church by walking through a special gate called a lych gate and then up a steep path from the village street.
How the Site Influenced the Design
Because the location was so exposed to the weather, Prior carefully studied local building styles. He figured out some important things that would affect his design:
- The site's direction meant strong light would come from the north. This meant only small windows would be needed on that side.
- The church needed to be warm, so it would have very thick walls and a sheltered entrance.
- Protection from the weather was important, like having a covered entrance on the north or south side.
- People attending church needed good seats where they could hear and see the preacher clearly.
Church Design and Materials
Edward Prior made at least three big changes to his design before it was final. At first, the church was going to have a tall tower. Later, he changed it to a smaller bell tower. He also simplified the main part of the church and the area around the altar.
Building Materials Used
The church is built from a rough local stone called Bothenhampton stone, which came from Mr. Grundy's own quarry. The stone walls are very thick, about 3 feet (1 meter) wide. The entire church sits on a base of blue-grey stone from Kimmeridge. This stone is also used for the lower parts of the strong supports called buttresses.
The roof is made of heavy Yorkshire limestone. This heavy material was chosen because of the church's exposed location, to protect it from strong winds. The decorative stone on the outside and the porch are made of Ham stone, which is known for being skillfully carved. The stone used inside the church is Bath stone.
The Unique Roof Structure
The roof was the most unusual part of the church's design. It is held up by three strong stone arches that stretch across the main part of the church (the nave). These arches were built to stop the wooden roof from creaking and straining in the wind. The arches are supported by buttresses on the outside of the church. These arches then hold up 14 strong wooden beams on each side of the roof.
The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 50 feet (15 meters) long and 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide. The floor under the seats is made of pine blocks, and the main walkways have 12-inch square tiles with stone borders.
Windows and Light
The windows in the nave have very thick walls around them. On the south side, there is one double window and two single tall, narrow windows (called lancets). On the north side, there are four single lancet windows. At the west end, there are two small lancet windows, which now have special stained glass remembering people. Above them is a round window. The other windows have an early style of stained glass designed by Prior.
The Chancel and Sanctuary
The chancel, which is the area around the altar, is smaller, about 15 feet (4.6 meters) by 13 feet (4 meters). It is five steps higher than the nave. It has four lancet windows to the south and two to the north. The area for the organ and the changing room for the clergy are on the north side of the chancel. The sanctuary, where the altar is, measures 10 feet (3 meters) by 13 feet (4 meters). Both the chancel and sanctuary have red and yellow tiled floors with stone borders. The east window has three lancet windows and a decorative three-leaf shape with colorful stained glass.
The Porch and Bell Turret
The porch, which is the entrance, is on the more sheltered south side. It has three decorative three-leaf windows on each side. The entrance arch is pointed and supported by two polished granite pillars. Inside, there are eight steps leading up to the church door.
A small bell tower is located on the south side, between the nave and the chancel.
Inside the Church
Edward Prior wanted the church's architecture and its furnishings to work together. He believed that church interiors should be respectful, simple, and honest, not overly fancy.
Heating and Lighting
Prior designed a heating system for the church using low-pressure coils. The boiler room was located north of the chancel, about 3 feet (1 meter) below the nave floor. Electric lighting was not added to the church until 1945.
Church Furnishings
Prior designed many of the church's interior items himself. These include the font (for baptisms), the altar rails, the choir stalls (seats for the choir), and the doors. The altar table was designed with another architect, William Lethaby, and built by Augustus Mason. All these furnishings were made from English oak wood. William Lethaby also designed the front of the altar with intertwined wild roses, leaves, and stems. A decorative metal screen was added to the chancel in 1895.
The font has a smooth stone bowl supported by eight polished pillars with decorated tops. The base of the font is made of a square of Keinton stone with two half-circular steps.
Building Challenges
The church took five years to complete. This was mainly because a group called the Incorporated Church Building Society had concerns about the experimental roof structure. This society gave money for church construction, but they could also demand changes to the design. Their architects repeatedly rejected Prior's roof design.
Overcoming Obstacles
Prior provided very detailed plans and explanations for his roof design. He showed many examples of similar roofs that already existed. He made some small changes, like removing certain metal supports, and had his calculations checked by leading civil engineers (experts who design structures). Finally, the society allowed the design to go ahead.
Prior hired a local builder named Thomas Patten for the work. The construction took over two years. There were problems with dampness inside the church, rising costs, and some annoyed local people. Prior himself even gave a donation and paid for the chancel seating, altar rails, and altar to help with the difficulties.
Images for kids
-
Holy Trinity, Bothenhampton, showing its strong design
