St James with Holy Trinity Church, Scarborough facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St James with Holy Trinity Church, Scarborough
View from the south-west
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OS grid reference	TA 03260 87610
Location	Seamer Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Open Evangelical
Website	St James, Scarborough
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1885
Founder(s)	F. Hartop Holt
Dedication	Saint James
Consecrated	24 July 1894
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	20 April 2007
Architect(s)	Paley, Austin and Paley
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1894
Specifications
Materials	Brick with stone dressings Tiled roofs
Administration
Parish	Scarborough St. James with Holy Trinity
Deanery	Scarborough
Archdeaconry	East Riding
Diocese	York
Province	York

St James with Holy Trinity Church is a special church located in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. This church is an important building. It is listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a historic building that needs to be protected.

The Church's Story: How It Began

The church started as a small chapel. It was connected to All Saints' Church in Scarborough. The chapel first opened for worship on July 25, 1885. At that time, it could fit about 200 people.

Founding and Early Growth

A kind person named F. Hartop Holt helped start the chapel. He was a curate (a type of church leader) at All Saints' Church. Much of the money for the chapel came from his aunt. She was the widow of a famous engineer, James Nasmyth. The chapel was designed by a well-known architecture firm. This firm was called Paley, Austin and Paley from Lancaster.

Becoming a Parish Church

In 1893, work began to make the church bigger. They added two aisles, which are side sections of the church. This made space for about 350 people. They also added a vestry (a room for the clergy) and made the porch larger. The same architects designed these new parts. The church was officially opened as a parish church on July 24, 1894. It was dedicated to Saint James. The Archbishop of York, William Maclagan, led the ceremony.

Joining with Holy Trinity

In 1990, St James' Church joined with Holy Trinity Church. Holy Trinity Church had closed in the 1980s. After they joined, the church was renamed. It became the Parish Church of St James with Holy Trinity. The Archbishop of York, John Habgood, rededicated it.

St James Today

Today, St James with Holy Trinity Church is part of the evangelical Anglican tradition. As of 2024, it is linked with the Church of St Columba, Scarborough. Together, they form the benefice of Scarborough Saint Columba and Saint James with Holy Trinity. The church is part of the Archdeaconry of The East Riding in the Diocese of York.

Church Design: Inside and Out

The church is built on a sloped piece of land. It is made of brick with stone decorations. Most of its roofs are covered with tiles. The church's style is Gothic Revival. This style looks like old Gothic churches.

Outside the Church

The church has a main area called a nave. It also has north and south aisles on the sides. There is a chancel at the east end, which is where the altar is. At the west end, there is a porch and a vestry. A bell tower stands above the east end of the south aisle.

Windows and Roofs

Underneath the east end of the church, there is a space called an undercroft. This undercroft has three windows, each with two lights (sections). Above these, the chancel has a large window with four lights. The top of the chancel has a pointed roof called a gable. It is topped with a cross. The south wall of the chancel has a three-light window. The north wall is plain. The north aisle has a two-light window at its east end. It also has three similar windows along its north wall. At the west end of the nave, there is a four-light window. The porch and vestry have flat roofs.

The Bell Tower

The south aisle has a two-light window at the west end. It also has two four-light windows on its south side. At the east end of the south aisle is the bell tower. This tower has a slated spire (a tall, pointed roof). On top of the spire is a weathervane shaped like a fish. Next to the tower, there is a room for the organ. This room has a three-light window.

Inside the Church

Inside, the church has arcades. These are rows of pointed arches. They are supported by piers, which are like strong columns. These piers have a special diamond shape.

Special Features

Between the nave and the chancel, there is a beautiful oak screen. This screen includes the pulpit, where sermons are given. It was put in place in 1921 to remember those who died in the First World War. The screen also lists the names of civilians who were killed. They died during a naval attack on December 16, 1914. This was the only time the German Navy raided mainland Britain during that war.

Altar and Font

The reredos (a screen behind the altar), the altar, and the choir stalls are also made of oak. At the east end of the north aisle, there is a special font. It is made of artificial stone. This font was added in 1947 to remember those who died in the Second World War.

Stained Glass and Organ

The beautiful stained glass windows were designed by Carl Almquist and E. H. Jewitt. They worked for a company called Shrigley and Hunt. The large east window is a memorial to the church's founder. It shows a picture of the Last Supper. The church also has an organ. It was built in 1976 by N. Church.

See also

• List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley