Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Parish Church |
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The church in April 2007
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| 52°33′50″N 1°49′13″W / 52.563854°N 1.820148°W | |
| OS grid reference | SP1219096280 |
| Location | Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 15th century or before |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 18 October 1949 |
Holy Trinity Parish Church is a very old and important church in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England. It is the main church for the area. This church is so special that it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most important historical buildings in the country. The area where it stands, called Sutton Trinity, is even named after the church!
Church History
People think the very first church on this spot was built a long, long time ago, possibly in the 1200s. It was connected to the nearby Sutton Coldfield manor. The oldest part of the church you see today is the west tower, which was built in the late 1400s.
In the 1530s, a bishop named John Vesey made the church bigger. He added two side aisles and an organ. Later, in the 1700s, more parts were added, like galleries (balconies), pews (church benches), and bells.
Inside the church, you can find the tomb of Bishop Vesey. There is also a special font that was brought here in the 1800s from another church. Some beautiful, old wooden screens and panels from the early 1600s were moved to Holy Trinity Church in 1875. They used to be in Worcester Cathedral.
In 1835, the church helped build a smaller chapel near Mere Green. This chapel later became St James' Church, Hill. In 1853, a part of Holy Trinity's parish (its local area) was used to create a new parish for St James' Church.
The Church Organ
Bishop Vesey gave an organ to the church in the 1530s. It was placed in the South Chapel. We don't know much about what happened to it, but it probably disappeared during the English Civil War.
A new organ was given to the church in 1761. Then, in 1829, an organ with 8 "speaking stops" (which control the sounds) was installed by Henry Bryceson. This organ was later replaced in 1865 by a bigger one from Gray and Davison. That organ was then sold to another church.
On April 3, 1900, a brand new organ by Robert Hope-Jones was opened. It cost £1,500! This organ was later updated in 1921 and again in 1950 by Hill, Norman and Beard. The 1950 organ cost £6,000.
Organists of Holy Trinity
- John Alcock (senior) 1761-1786
- Mr Clark from 1786
- Mr. Cull
- John George Lampert around 1860
- Miss Alice Brentnall around 1870 - 1890
- George Halford 1890 - 1891
- William Eardley 1891 - 1929
- Harold Gray 1931 - 1981
- Donald Francis Alldrick 1981 - 1992
- Simon Lumby 1992 - 1996
Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. The third and fourth bells were made in 1795 by Thomas Mears. The rest of the bells were made in 1884 by John Taylor and Co from Loughborough. The largest bell, called the tenor, weighs about 1189 kilograms (2621 pounds).
Holy Trinity Today
In the past, Holy Trinity Church was part of the mediaeval Diocese of Lichfield. Today, it is part of the Diocese of Birmingham. A diocese is like a church district led by a bishop.
In September 2013, a group called the "Friends of Holy Trinity Parish Church" was started. Their goal is to raise money to help the church. The first important supporter of this group was Andrew Mitchell, who is a Member of Parliament (MP). Their first big event was the Royal Town Gala Concert in November 2013, hosted by the famous entertainer Don Maclean.
