Holy Trinity Church, Rotherhithe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church
51°30′02″N 0°02′05″W / 51.50048°N 0.03473°W / 51.50048; -0.03473
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Status	active
Dedicated	1957
Architecture
Architect(s)	Thomas Ford
Administration
Parish	Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe
Archdeaconry	Southwark
Episcopal area	Woolwich
Diocese	Southwark

Holy Trinity Church is a special Church of England parish church. You can find it in Rotherhithe, a part of south east London. It is part of the Diocese of Southwark. This church has an amazing story, especially about how it was rebuilt after a war.

A Church with a Past: Holy Trinity's History

Building the First Church

The first church on this spot was built between 1837 and 1838. More and more people were moving to Rotherhithe. This was because the Surrey Commercial Docks were growing. The old church, St Mary's Church, Rotherhithe, became too small.

The first Holy Trinity Church was designed in a neo-Gothic style. This means it looked like older Gothic churches. The architect was Sampson Kempthorne. He was also known for designing workhouses.

The church had a simple design. It had a wide, barn-like main area and a tower at the west end. Large, tall windows let light into the church. The tower had a special top that looked like castle walls.

The Churchyard Becomes a Garden

The churchyard was used for burials until 1858. Later, in 1885, it was turned into a small public garden. This was done by the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. It gave local people a nice green space to enjoy.

Destroyed in World War II

Sadly, the first church building was destroyed. This happened during an air raid on September 7, 1940. Enemy planes dropped bombs on London during The Blitz. Holy Trinity was the first British church to be destroyed in the Second World War.

The church had an organ made by Henry Bevington. It was also destroyed. The vicar during the war was Reverend Joseph Thrift. On the night of the bombing, he barely escaped. He made sure everyone else was safe first. Then, he rowed away from the burning church. Bombs were still falling around him.

After the bombing, Reverend Thrift asked for help. He put an advertisement in the Church Times newspaper. He wrote: "Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe. Church bombed and everything destroyed. Can you supply one of our immediate needs?"

A New Beginning: The Present Church

The school buildings next to the church survived the bombing. They were used for church services until the new church was finished in 1959. These buildings are still used today as the Church Hall. A special memorial from WWI also survived the bombing. It is now a protected historical site.

The new church building was designed in 1957. The architect was Thomas Ford. This church has a very special feature. It's a large painting, or mural, of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. This amazing artwork was created by a German artist named Hans Feibusch.

The church is also known for its excellent sound quality. Since 2016, it has hosted concerts. An early music group called Musica Antica Rotherhithe performs there. They play music from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.

Gallery

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  Church interior

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  Sanctuary with mural

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  Pulpit

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  Foundation stone