Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall |
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| 52°51′35″N 2°15′26″W / 52.8597°N 2.2573°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 827 291 |
| Location | Eccleshall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.eccleshallparish.com/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 24 January 1967 |
| Style | English Gothic architecture |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 94 feet (29 m) |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Eccleshall Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
Holy Trinity Church in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, England, is a very old and important church. It is listed as a Grade I listed building, which means it has special historical value.
Most of the church was built in the 1200s. It was later repaired and updated in the 1800s. Inside, you can find the tombs of four Bishops of Lichfield.
Contents
Early History of the Church
The Domesday Book of 1086 tells us that the land where Eccleshall is now belonged to St Chad before the Norman Conquest. This means it was owned by St Chad's Cathedral in Lichfield. It might have been given to Saint Chad, the first Bishop of Lichfield, way back in the 600s.
The name "Eccleshall" comes from an old Celtic word for "church." This suggests that a Celtic Christian community might have lived here a very long time ago.
The Church Building
The oldest parts of Holy Trinity Church, like its foundations and pillars, are from around 1189. This was when Hugh Nonant was the bishop of Lichfield. It is believed that this building replaced an even smaller Norman church.
The main parts of the church, like the chancel (the area around the altar) and the arcades (rows of arches), were mostly built in the 1200s. The clerestory (the upper part of the nave with windows) was added in the 1400s.
The church tower is about 94 feet (29 m) tall to the top of its battlements. The tower shows two different building styles. The lower part is from the 1200s, called Early English style. The top part, added later, is from the 1400s, called Perpendicular style. The stone pinnacles (small pointed towers) on top of the tower were added in 1897. This was to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
You can also see a sandstone font inside the church. This font, used for baptisms, dates back to the 1200s.
Changes and Updates
Between 1866 and 1869, the church was restored by an architect named George Edmund Street. During this time, the roofs of the side aisles were replaced. The north wall was rebuilt, making that side of the church wider. The old ceiling of the main part of the church was removed, and the roof above it was covered with wooden panels.
In the chancel, the large east window was replaced with a new one. A pointed arch was built, and the chancel roof was made higher. The old box-like pews were replaced with new oak seats. At the back of the church, a baptistry (for baptisms) and a choir vestry (a room for the choir) were added.
A special screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was created in 1898. It was designed by Basil Champneys and made by Bridgemans of Lichfield. In 2011, a raised platform was added at the front of the main part of the church.
The Organ
The church's organ was first put in place in 1827. It was rebuilt in 1913 and again in 1930 by a company called Hill, Norman and Beard. The beautiful wooden case around the organ was designed in 1931 by W. D. Caroe. The organ was last repaired and improved in 2017, costing about £60,000.
Important People and Tombs
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Bishops at Eccleshall
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Vicars of Holy Trinity Church Eccleshall
Holy Trinity Church is the resting place for four Bishops of Lichfield.
- Richard Sampson died in 1554. He was an important person who worked for King Henry VIII during his divorce. His tomb was moved to a different part of the church in the 1800s.
- Thomas Bentham became bishop when Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne. He died in 1578, and his tomb was also moved in the 1800s.
- William Overton was bishop from 1579 to 1609. His tomb is in the chancel and shows statues of him and his two wives.
- James Bowstead became bishop in 1840. He died at 42 after falling from a horse. His tomb is near the altar.
Bishop John Lonsdale, who died in 1867, is buried in the churchyard outside.
The churchyard also contains five Commonwealth war graves. These are for three British Army soldiers from World War I and a British Army officer and a Royal Navy sailor from World War II.
The Church Bells
In 1547, the church had four bells. In 1710, these were replaced with six new bells, made by Abraham Rudhall I. The lightest of these bells was recast (melted down and reshaped) in 1873.
In the 1950s, a new steel frame was put in for eight bells. Two new bells were added, given by the Lowe family. There is also a small "sanctus" bell, made in 1735, which was added more recently.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Eccleshall
