Holy Trinity Church, Coventry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Coventry |
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Holy Trinity Church (left); the spire of the old St Michael's Cathedral is to the right
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| 52°24′31″N 01°30′32″W / 52.40861°N 1.50889°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.holytrinitycoventry.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Coventry |
| Diocese | Coventry |
| Province | Canterbury |
Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, is a historic parish church in Coventry, England. It belongs to the Church of England. Inside, above the main arch, you can see a very old and impressive wall painting called a "Doom painting."
Contents
Church History: A Look Back
This church is very old, built in the 1100s! It's the only church from the Middle Ages in Coventry that's still fully standing. It's about 59 meters long, and its tall spire reaches 72 meters high. That makes it one of the tallest church spires in the UK that isn't part of a cathedral.
The church has been repaired and updated many times over the centuries. In the mid-1600s, it was restored. The tower got new stone in 1826, thanks to Thomas Rickman. The front of the church was rebuilt in 1843 by Richard Charles Hussey.
The inside of the church also got a big makeover in 1854. This work was done by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott.
The Famous Doom Painting
The "Doom painting" is a large wall painting above the arch leading to the tower. It was created in the 1430s. These paintings usually showed the Last Judgment, reminding people about heaven and hell.
For many years, the painting was hidden. It was discovered in 1831, covered by a layer of white paint. An artist named David Gee restored it, but the varnish he used darkened over time, hiding it again. In 1995, new conservation work began, and the painting was finally fully revealed in 2004 for everyone to see.
The Church Organ: A Musical Journey
Holy Trinity Church once had a large pipe organ. This organ grew and changed over many years, with different builders adding to it. The last major work was done by Henry Willis and Sons.
Organ History: From Old to New
The first organ we know about was built in 1526. It cost £30, which was a lot of money back then! Later, in the late 1500s, it was taken apart because some church leaders didn't like organs.
In 1631, a new organ was brought in. But in the 1640s, it was sold for £30. In 1732, a German builder named Thomas Swarbrick built a new, bigger organ for £600. It had two keyboards and was placed on a special balcony.
Over the years, more parts were added, like a "Swell" and "Pedal" section in 1829. As part of the church's big restoration in the 1850s, a new organ was built by Forster and Andrews. It had three keyboards and pedals.
Later, in 1900, the organ was rebuilt again, becoming even bigger with four keyboards. Electric power was added in 1923 to help it play. The organ was rebuilt one last time in 1961 by Henry Willis. It had 59 "speaking stops" (which control different sounds) and many pipes.
Sadly, by 2007, the organ was too old and broken to fix. It was taken apart. Now, there's a plan to raise money for a brand new organ, which will cost around £600,000.
People Who Played the Organ
Many talented musicians have served as organists at Holy Trinity Church over the centuries. Some famous names include Capel Bond in the 1700s and Charles Harry Moody around 1900, who later became the organist at Ripon Cathedral. More recently, Jeremy Filsell played the organ here in the 1980s.
- William Lambe 1631–1640
- Mr. Harrison 1684–1696
- Mr. Spencer 1696–1731
- John Barker 1731–1752
- Capel Bond 1752–1790
- John Owen 1790–1797
- Matthew Payne 1797–1818
- Jane Lowe 1818–1856
- Edward Simms 1821–1822
- Frank Frederick Cuisset 1856–1860
- H.J. Bailey 1860–1862
- Arthur Anwill Evans 1862–1866
- William Chater 1866–1880
- A. Hanson 1880–1899
- Charles Harry Moody 1899–1902
- Percy E. Hughes 1902 – ca. 1907 – ????
- Christie Green 1912 – 1918
- Harold Bartrum Osmond 1918 – ca. 1931 – ????
- Leonard Tanner B Mus. FRCO. ca.1950–1960
- Martyn Lane – Organist and Master of the Choristers – 1965–1975
- Peter Johnson 1975–1979
- Andrew Moodie ca. 1981
- Jeremy Filsell – c. 1981
- Christopher Howard 1981–1990 – Director of Music.
- Indra Hughes 1990–1992 (Organist and Master of the Choristers)
- David Baxter – 1982–1991 – under baton of Christopher Howard and Indra Hughes
- Christopher Howard – Director of Music – 1992–2013.
- Alexander Norman – Director of Music – 2013–present
Assistant Organists
Some people also served as assistant organists, helping with the music. These included Norman Coke-Jephcott in the early 1900s.
- Sullivan D.T. Mortimer ???? – ca.1900
- Norman Coke-Jephcott 1909–1911
- Harold Carpenter c.1950–60
- Peter Bourton c.1954–64.
Church Leaders: Vicars and Curates
Many dedicated clergy members have served Holy Trinity Church over the centuries. These include curates, who are assistant priests, and vicars, who are the main priests in charge of the parish.
List of Vicars: Serving the Community
The church has had a long line of vicars, dating back to the 1200s. Some notable vicars later became important leaders in the wider church. For example, Walter Farquhar Hook (vicar from 1828-1837) later became the Vicar of Leeds Parish Church. More recently, Graham Dow (1981–1992) became the Bishop of Carlisle, and David Andrew Urquhart (1992–2000) became the Bishop of Birmingham.
- Ralph de Sove, (no dates known)
- Henry de Harenhale, 1298
- John de Holland, 1334
- John Greneburgh, 1346
- Egidius Fillilod, 1349
- William Swet, 1380
- John de Amcotes, 1381
- John Brideston, (no dates known)
- William Gamell, 1383
- Nicholas Crosloy, 1421
- John Meneley, 1443
- Thomas Bowde, (no dates known)
- Thomas Orton, 1508
- Richard Collett, (no dates known)
- Nicholas Darington, 1527
- Roger Capp, (no dates known)
- William Benet, 1546
- George Brooche, 1554
- George Cheston, 1568
- Anthony Fletcher, 1576
- Humphrey Fenne, 1577
- Richard Eaton, 1590
- Thomas Cooper, 1604
- Samuel Gibson, 1610
- John Staresmore, 1618
- Samuel Buggs, 1626
- Henry Carpenter, 1633
- Joseph Brown, 1636
- Robert Proctor, 1638
- John Bryan, 1644
- Nathaniel Wanley, 1662
- Samuel Barton, 1680
- Jonathan Kimberley, 1681
- Samuel Kimberley, 1712
- John Macklin, 1734
- Nathaniel Gerard, 1752
- Joseph Rann, 1773
- John Davies, 1811
- Walter Farquhar Hook, 1828–1837
- John Howells, 1837
- William Drake, 1857
- Alfred William Wilson, 1864
- Francis M. Beaumont, 1872–1912
- R. Basil Littlewood, 1912
- Acland F. O'N. Williams, 1929
- Graham W. Clitheroe, 1931
- Lawrence Jackson, 1965–1973
- Nigel Douglas Blayney Abbott, 1973–1980
- Graham Dow, 1981–1992
- David Andrew Urquhart, 1992–2000
- Gordon Keith Sinclair, 2001–2007
- David Mayhew, 2009–2016
- Graeme Anderson, 2017-2021
- Richard Hibbert, from 2022
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
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The Brides' Window. This beautiful East window was made by Ninian Comper in 1956.
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Te Deum. The West window was created by Hugh Ray Easton in 1955.
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Christ in Majesty. This window in the South aisle was made by Geoffrey Webb in 1933.
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A lovely window in the south wall of the church.
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A colorful window on the north side of the Marler Chapel.
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Another window found on the east side of the Marler Chapel.
Images for kids
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This memorial remembers those who died on HMS Coventry during the Falklands War in 1982.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Coventry
