Holy Trinity Church, Westbury on Trym facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church
The church tower.
Religion
Affiliation	Church of England
District	Westbury on Trym
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Parish church
Location
Location	Bristol, England
Location in Bristol
Architecture
Architectural style	English Gothic
Completed	15th century
Website
Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Church is a special Church of England church located in Westbury-on-Trym, a part of Bristol, England. It's known as a parish church, which means it serves the local community.

The very first church on this spot was built a long time ago, in the 8th century. Later, in the 10th century, a Benedictine priory (a type of monastery for monks) was started here. The church building you see today began to be built in the early 13th century. It has been changed and rebuilt many times since then. Because of its history and architecture, it's recognized as a Grade I listed building by Historic England.

From the late 12th century until the mid-16th century, Holy Trinity Church was connected to Westbury College. This college was a place where priests lived and worked together. Today, only a small part of the college, like its gatehouse, is still standing. Inside the church, you can find the tomb of John Carpenter, who was a Bishop of Worcester. He had big plans to make this church a joint cathedral for his diocese.

A Look Back: The Church's History

How the Church Began

People traditionally believed the first church was founded around 716–717. However, records show that a church definitely existed by the end of the 8th century. King Offa, a powerful king, started a minster (an important church with a community of clergy) here between 793 and 796.

This minster later became a Benedictine priory around 963–964. This was part of a big change led by Bishop Oswald of Worcester. He wanted to bring the Rule of Saint Benedict (a set of rules for monks) to his churches. He even brought a monk named Germanus from France to be the new Prior (the head of the priory). But Bishop Oswald soon moved the monks to Ramsey to start Ramsey Abbey. The priory buildings at Westbury then fell apart. Around 1093, Bishop Wulfstan took over the old priory and rebuilt it as a monastery, controlled by the Worcester diocese.

Becoming a College Church

For about a hundred years, the monastery had different groups of clergy living there. Sometimes it was monks, and sometimes it was secular priests (priests who work in the community, not in a monastery). This finally settled around 1194 when the church became a collegiate church. This meant it was run by a group of canons (special priests) who lived together at Westbury College. Each canon was supported by money from different areas around Westbury, like Aust and Henbury.

A famous reformer named John Wycliffe was a canon here from 1362 until he died in 1384. He was known for his ideas about changing the church. Later, a rich merchant from Bristol, William Canynge, became the dean (the head) of the college from 1469 until his death in 1474.

In 1544, a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries happened. This is when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and religious colleges in England. After this, Holy Trinity Church became a regular parish church within the new Bristol diocese. The college buildings then went to a man named Sir Ralph Sadler.

Church Design and Style

The church building we see today was mostly built after 1194. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the side sections, called aisles, were built in the early 13th century. This part shows the Early English style, which is known for its simple, tall arches and narrow windows.

The rest of the church was built in the Perpendicular style. This style came later and is known for its large windows and detailed stone patterns. Bishop Carpenter did a lot of rebuilding in the mid-15th century. He added the clerestory (the upper part of the nave with windows), the chancel (the area around the altar), the choir (where the choir sits), and a north chapel. The chancel has a rare polygonal apse (a rounded or multi-sided end), which is unusual for churches from this time. The church tower was also built during this period but was repaired in the mid-19th century. The reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) shows a picture of the Last Supper and was also added in the 19th century.

Important Memorials

Bishop Carpenter had hoped to make Holy Trinity Church a joint cathedral with Worcester, but this plan didn't happen. However, he was the one who officially named the church "Holy Trinity." When he died in 1476, he was buried in a crypt (an underground room) beneath the altar. You can see a stone figure from his tomb in the chancel. This figure has a special Purbeck marble canopy that was given in 1853 by Oriel College, Oxford, where he used to be the Provost (a high-ranking official).

Churchyard

The churchyard around Holy Trinity Church is a peaceful place. It contains war graves for soldiers and officers who died in World War I. These include a soldier and an officer from the Gloucestershire Regiment and an officer from the Royal Flying Corps.

Images for kids

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  Holy Trinity Church in 1882

See also

• Churches in Bristol
• Grade I listed buildings in Bristol