Holy Trinity Church, Holdgate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Holdgate |
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Holy Trinity Church, Holdgate, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SO 562 896 |
| Location | Holdgate, Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Holy Trinity, Holdgate |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 12 November 1954 |
| Architect(s) | J. P. St Aubyn and Henry Wadling (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, tiled roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holdgate |
| Deanery | Ludlow |
| Archdeaconry | Ludlow |
| Diocese | Hereford |
| Province | Canterbury |
Holy Trinity Church is a historic church located in the small village of Holdgate, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community for worship and events. The church is very important because it is listed as a Grade I building, which means it has special historical or architectural significance. It stands near where Holdgate Castle used to be.
Contents
Exploring the Church's Past
Holy Trinity Church has a long and interesting history. It was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey of England made in 1086. This shows that a church has been on this spot for over 900 years!
How the Church Grew Over Time
The oldest parts of the church, like the main hall (called the nave) and possibly part of the area around the altar (the chancel), were built in the 12th century. Later, in the 13th century, more of the chancel and the lower part of the tower were added.
The south entrance (the porch) was likely built in the 14th century. The top part of the tower was added even later, either in the 15th or 17th century. For a while after 1793, a section of the nave was even used as a schoolroom!
Restorations and Changes
The church has been repaired and updated several times over the years.
- In 1854–55, it was restored and new seating was put in.
- Another big restoration happened in 1894–95. During this time, a new arch was added to the chancel, windows were replaced, old ceilings were removed, and new roofs and a new porch were built. The schoolroom partition was also taken down.
Discovering the Church's Design
Holy Trinity Church is built from sandstone and has tiled roofs. It has a main hall (nave), a south porch, a chancel, and a tower at the west end.
Outside the Church
The tower has two levels. The lower level has tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The upper level has openings for bells and decorative stone bands with gargoyles (carved figures). The very top of the tower has a battlemented wall with pointed decorations called pinnacles at the corners. This upper part of the tower is in a style called Perpendicular Gothic.
The south wall of the nave has a special doorway from the Norman period. It has a round arch with detailed carvings of heads, arches, and zigzags. The windows are mostly in an Early English style. You can also spot a unique carving of a sheela na gig on the south wall of the chancel, which is very old, probably from the 12th century.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find an aumbry (a small cupboard for sacred items) in the north wall of the chancel and a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) in the south wall. The church has old-fashioned box pews, which are like enclosed seats. One of them even has a desk from 1707! There are also two special seats with carved tops from the Jacobean period.
The round font (used for baptisms) is from the Norman period and is beautifully carved with patterns like rope, a dragon, and intertwined designs. You can also see the royal arms from 1757. The colorful stained glass in the east window, made around 1904, was created by Herbert Bryans.
In the south wall of the nave, there's a special space for a tomb from the 14th century. The church also has old brasses from the 17th and 18th centuries. The tower holds three bells: two from the 1600s and one from 1754.
Churchyard Features
In the churchyard, you can find three old memorials, each also listed as Grade II.
- To the south of the chancel, there's a stone headstone from 1716.
- To the southeast, another similar headstone has dates from 1748 and 1771.
- South of the nave, there's a chest tomb from the early 1800s.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
- Listed buildings in Abdon, Shropshire
