Holy Trinity Church, Crockham Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church |
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Holy Trinity Church
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| 51°14′15″N 0°04′03″E / 51.2374°N 0.0675°E | |
| Location | Crockham Hill |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founder(s) | Charles Warde |
| Dedication | Trinity |
| Consecrated | 1842 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 10 September 1954 |
| Completed | 1842 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Crockham Hill |
| Deanery | Tonbridge |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
Holy Trinity Church is a special old church in Crockham Hill, Kent, England. It's part of the Church of England. This church was built a long time ago, in 1842, and is now a 'Grade II listed building'. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of Holy Trinity Church
How the Church Started
The idea for Holy Trinity Church came from a man named Charles Warde. He lived in Westerham and noticed there wasn't a Church of England place of worship in Crockham Hill. Charles Warde decided to pay for the church to be built in 1842. His sister, E Mildmay, also helped by giving money.
Charles Warde became the church's 'patron'. This meant his family would always have a special connection to the church. This tradition continues even today.
Why the Church is Important
In 1954, Holy Trinity Church was given 'Grade II listed building' status. This was because of its unique style, which mixes Victorian and medieval designs. The church also has many of its original features inside.
Sadly, in 2019, the church was broken into. A special old lectern, which is a stand for reading, was stolen.
Connection to Octavia Hill
The church is also important because of its link to Octavia Hill. She was a famous social reformer who helped many people. Octavia Hill lived in Crockham Hill and went to this church.
She was also responsible for buying the land around the church. This land was bought for the National Trust, which protects important places. Octavia Hill is buried in the churchyard under a yew tree. There is also a special memorial inside the church to remember her.
Church Use and Changes
Early Years and Parish Changes
When it was first built, Holy Trinity Church was part of the parish of Westerham St Mary's. But in 1845, it became its own separate parish.
In 1981, the Church of England decided to combine Holy Trinity's parish with a nearby church. This was St Peter and St Paul's in Edenbridge. An associate vicar then led services at Crockham Hill. The Warde family's special patronage was also paused.
Local Disagreement and Resolution
Many local people were not happy about this decision. They felt it ignored the church's long history with Westerham. To help smooth things over, the Bishop of Rochester appointed Richard Mason as the priest-in-charge. He later became the Archdeacon of Tonbridge.
This arrangement continued for many years. Then, in 2014, Holy Trinity Church became an independent parish again. A new vicar, who had previously worked at St Mark's Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells, was welcomed to lead the church.
See also
