Holy Trinity Church, Guildford
Holy Trinity Church, Guildford | |
---|---|
Holy Trinity | |
Administration | |
Province | Canterbury |
Diocese | Guildford |
Archdeaconry | Surrey |
Deanery | Guildford |
Holy Trinity Church is an
From 1927, when the diocese of Guildford was created, until 1961, when the current cathedral was consecrated, it served as pro-cathedral. Today it forms part of the town centre parish of Holy Trinity and Saint Mary's.
History
Construction and development
The original, mediaeval church was similar in plan to the surviving Saint Mary's. Its date of construction is unknown, although the list of rectors goes back to 1304. It may have been a Norman foundation. It is believed that
Weston Chapel
The "Weston Chapel" stands attached to the south side of the main church. Its external walls are of a decorative chequerboard pattern of flint and freestone squares. It was built c.1540 by Richard Weston (1465–1541) of nearby Sutton Place, primarily as his intended burial place, as his will, dated 15 May 1541,[3] directs that his body be:
"buryed in the P'yshe Churche of the Holy Trinitye with in the Town of Guldforde in a Chapell which I have caused to be made for the same iyntent"[4]
The Chantry established and funded by Weston is listed in the "Survey of Chantry Lands, Surrey" made between 1546 and 1548 as part of the administering of the
"For the mayneteyninge of one priest and one yerely obite for the terme of xx ti (i.e.20) yeares begyninge the xx th day of June in the xxxii yere (1541) of the reigne of our late sovereign lorde Kinge Henry the eight. The incumbent whereof is Anthony Cawsey clerke of the age of l (i.e.50) yeres...which said chauntrey and obite are worth lands and
tenements by the yere x li (i.e. £20) whereof to the pore xxvii s iiii d. (i.e. 27 shillings & 4 pence) and so remayneth clere viii li iiii d (i.e. £8 4d) plate parcel gilt viii oz di. Qrt. xlii s iii d Ornamentes x li."[4]
The Weston family maintained their Catholic faith throughout the Reformation and beyond, which was a great sacrifice for them as it prevented them from holding public office and brought much suspicion on them from government officials throughout the ages. The freehold of the Weston Chapel was retained by descendants of the Weston family until 2005, when the trustees of the Weston Estate granted it to the main Protestant Church of Holy Trinity to which it has been physically attached since 1763. Part of the arrangement was that a Catholic mass be held in the Chapel at least annually.
There are three surviving Weston monuments in the chapel. Two are wall tablets, the earliest of which commemorates Melior Mary Weston (d.1782) of Sutton Place, the last direct descendant of the founder and only child and sole heiress of John II Weston (d.1730) and Elizabeth Gage, sister of Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage. The tablet was erected by her grateful distant Catholic cousin John Webbe-Weston (d.1823) to whom she bequeathed all her estates, including Sutton Place. The other tablet is for Elizabeth Lawson, who died in 1791 aged 34, first wife of John Webbe-Weston.[5]
The other Weston Monument which once stood in the centre of the Weston Chapel but now stands in the west porch of the main church is the
Collapse of 1740
In 1740 the steeple collapsed, destroying most of the building. The only part of that church building that survives today is the Weston Chapel. Some external features such as the iron railings also remain from the earlier building, as do two monuments. A new red brick church was erected to the designs of James Horne on the site of the original church and opened in 1763.[2] The architecture has been described as "handsome and pedestrian at the same time", being of correct classical proportions but with details that are under-scale for such a large building on an important site.[7]
Holy Trinity is the only large 18th-century place of worship in Surrey and stands in a commanding position at the top of Guildford's High Street.[2] In the mid-19th century the interior of the church was altered extensively. In 1869 Woodyer replaced the double rows of windows with single rows.[7] The side galleries were removed in 1867. The Victorian emphasis on ritual and sacrament called for a larger chancel, and in 1886 the church was enlarged at the east end, creating the present choir, sanctuary, side chapel and organ chamber.[8]
The church is now effectively one huge room with tripartite openings at the east end, allowing access to the chancel and the two side chapels. The central feature of the decoration of the
Other alterations have taken place throughout the 20th century. The wrought iron choir screen dates from 1927, when Holy Trinity became pro-cathedral.[2] The organ has undergone substantial movement and alteration over the years, culminating in complete renovations in 1977 and 1997.[9]
Features inside the church include the tomb of
The church also has a ring of eight bells hung for change ringing. Four of the bells date from 1769, cast by Lester, Pack & Chapman, with the others having been cast in 1912 by John Taylor & Co.[10]
Pro-Cathedral
As a response to the increasing population of south-east England, the
Today
Worship
The style of worship at Holy Trinity Church falls within the
Holy Trinity is Guildford's civic church, where the installation of each new Mayor and the town's annual Act of Remembrance is celebrated. It also serves as the venue for regular musical events.
The parish of Holy Trinity and Saint Mary's has links with the
References
- ^ a b Historic England. "CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY (1029258)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ ISBN 1860770029.
- ^ National Archives PROB 11/29
- ^ a b "The Weston Chapel, www.holytrinityguildford.org.uk". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ Harrison, Frederic, Annals of an Old Manor House: Sutton Place, Guildford. London, 1899
- ^ Harrison, op.cit
- ^ ISBN 0140710213.
- ^ a b "Holy Trinity". Guildford Borough Council. 3 August 2005. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Holy Trinity Guildford". Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Guildford Holy Trinity". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Guildford Cathedral – Cathedral History". Guildford Cathedral. 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Lee, Sidney (1885). Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 24. . In
- ^ "Holy Trinity Choir". Holy Trinity Guildford. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.