Holy Trinity Church, Coventry Facts for Kids

This article is about Holy Trinity Church (disambiguation)|Holy Trinity Church. For other uses, see Holy Trinity Church, Coventry (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
Holy Trinity Church (left); the spire of the old St Michael's Cathedral is to the right
52°24′31″N 01°30′32″W / 52.40861°N 1.50889°W / 52.40861; -1.50889
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 parish church of the Church of England in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Above the chancel arch is an impressive Doom wall-painting.

History
Doom painting
Organ
Notable clergy
- List of Vicars
Stained glass windows
See also

History

The church dates from the 12th century and is the only Medieval church in Coventry that is still complete. It is 59 metres (194 ft) long and has a spire 72 metres (236 ft) high, one of the tallest non-cathedral spires in the UK.

The church was restored in 1665–1668, and the tower was recased in 1826 by Thomas Rickman. The east end was rebuilt in 1786 and the west front by Richard Charles Hussey in 1843.

The inside of the church was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1854.

Doom painting

Doom painting in Holy Trinity Church

Memorial to the dead of HMS Coventry in the Falklands War 1982

The doom painting was painted above the tower arch in 1430s. It was discovered in 1831, covered by a lime wash, and was then restored and varnished over by David Gee. In the years following, the varnish darkened and hid the painting from view again. In 1995, conservation and restoration work was begun and the painting was revealed in 2004.

Organ

The church had a pipe organ which had evolved over a long period of time with work by many builders, the last by Henry Willis and Sons. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

History

1526: This is the earliest recorded organ, built by John Howe and John Clynmowe of London for £30. In the late 16th century it was dismantled as the Puritan clergy at Holy Trinity disapproved of organs.
1631: Samuel Buggs (Vicar), "procured" a replacement instrument.
1640s: Puritans back in charge, organ sold for £30.
1732: The German Thomas Swarbrick, who also supplied a new organ for Coventry Cathedral (Old Cathedral), built one for Holy Trinity for £600. It was placed upon a gallery erected for it across the Nave and had 2 manuals.
1829: Swell and pedal added.
1855–1861: As part of the George Gilbert Scott restoration of the church, a new organ chamber was built in the westernmost bay of the south chancel aisle. This instrument of 3 manuals plus pedals, was built by Forster and Andrews for £800.
1900: Rebuilt by W. Hill & Sons with some of the old work incorporated; 4 manuals.
1923: Electric blowing chest added.
1933: J. Charles Lee of Coventry added pneumatic pistons.
1961: Rebuilt for £12,200 by the firm of Henry Willis, the organ contained 59 speaking stops, each with 61 pipes, along with 30 couplers and 3 tremolos.
2007: Organ was dismantled, due to it being beyond repair. A funding appeal has been launched for a new organ, which will cost approximately £600,000.

List of organists

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 (later organist of Bishop Ryder Church, Birmingham and St. Mary's Church, Selly Oak, Birmingham)
H.J. Bailey 1860–1862 (formerly assistant organist of Ely Cathedral)
Arthur Anwill Evans 1862–1866
William Chater 1866–1880
A. Hanson 1880–1899
Charles Harry Moody 1899–1902 (later organist of Ripon Cathedral)
Percy E. Hughes 1902 – ca. 1907 – ????
Christie Green 1912 – 1918 (previously organist of Blackburn Parish Church, afterwards organist of St. Margaret's Church, Altrincham, Cheshire)
Harold Bartrum Osmond 1918 – ca. 1931 – ???? (formerly organist of St Peters, Thanet)
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

List of assistant organists

Sullivan D.T. Mortimer ???? – ca.1900 (afterwards organist of St. Mary's Church, Atherstone)
Norman Coke-Jephcott 1909–1911
Harold Carpenter c.1950–60
Peter Bourton c.1954–64. Afterwards Organist at St Marks, Bilton, Rugby.