Holy Trinity Church, Fleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church |
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Holy Trinity Church
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Year consecrated | 1829 |
| Location | |
| Location | Fleet, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Stickland of Dorchester |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1829 |
Holy Trinity Church is a Church of England church located in Fleet, a village in Dorset, England. It was built between 1827 and 1829. This church replaced an older one that was badly damaged during a huge storm in 1824. Today, Holy Trinity Church is still used for religious services and is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I Listed site since 1956.
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History of Holy Trinity Church
The Great Storm of 1824
In 1824, a massive storm hit the village of Fleet. Waves crashed over Chesil Beach, causing a lot of damage. Many villagers had to quickly move to a safer place nearby called Chickerell.
After the storm, people saw that five homes were completely destroyed. The old church in Fleet also lost a big part of its building, called the nave.
Building a New Church
After the storm, the local church leader, Reverend George Gould, decided to build a brand new church. He paid for it himself! An architect named Stickland from Dorchester helped design the new building.
They chose a spot for the new church about 540 yards (or about 494 meters) further inland than the old one. This was a smart move to protect it from future storms. Reverend Gould laid the first stone of the new church on April 25, 1827.
The church was finished in 1829. On August 25, 1829, it was officially opened for worship by the Bishop of Bristol, Robert Gray. This special ceremony is called a "consecration."
Improvements and Gifts
Over the years, the church received some nice updates. In 1891, a new altar made of oak wood was added. This was a gift from Sir Henry Peto, who lived at Fleet House.
Sir Henry Peto also paid for more improvements to the church in 1891 and 1892. He did this to honor his father, Sir Samuel Morton Peto, who had passed away.
The church's seating was changed, but they made sure to keep as much of the original wood from the old pews as possible. The floor was also replaced with new wood blocks over concrete because the old floor had become rotten. A heating system was put in too, to make the church more comfortable.
All this work took about three months. George Vialls from London oversaw the project. The church reopened in February 1892, ready for its community.
Holy Trinity Church Today
Today, Holy Trinity Church still holds services regularly. It's also a popular place for weddings, funerals, and other special events. It is part of a group of churches in the area known as Chesil Churches.
Architecture of Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church is built in the Gothic style, which is known for its pointed arches and tall windows. The church is made from ashlar stone, which means the stones are carefully cut and shaped. It has slate roofs.
The church has a tower at the west end, a main area called the nave, and a chancel and sanctuary where the altar is located. All the windows have beautiful painted glass. The large window at the east end shows a scene called "The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain," and it was painted by Mr. Stevenson from Bath.
