Holy Trinity Church

Last updated 17 May 2012

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A brief history of Holy Trinity church

The parish and Church of Holy Trinity came into being at the end of the 19th century to meet the needs of the growing local community of Queens Park. The conventional district was formed largely from the parish of Kingsthorpe and partly from that of St. Paul’s and with the help of the Northampton Church Extension Society a temporary iron building was erected in 1899 to serve as a day school, Church and hall on a triangular piece of ground that hade been ear-marked for the purpose. The name Holy Trinity came from a ruined medieval building of the same dedication which was attached to St David’s hostel - just within the new Parish boundary. In 1900 the owner of the ruin gave pieces of stone to be incorporated into the new permanent Church whenever it would be built.

The well-known Northampton architect Mathew Holding, who had already been responsible for St Paul’s, St Mary’s, St Mathew’s and Christchurch was selected to design the building and he aimed to put his finest work into the last of his five Churches for the town. The contract for the cruciform building in the late perpendicular style was awarded to Mr R Cosford. The foundation stone was laid in October 1907 by Lady Knightley of Fawsley and for almost two years forty local men worked with Duston ironstone and Bathstone facings brought to the sight from Corsham by rail. The medieval stones were incorporated into windows in the choir vestry and the unusual internal stone finials and wood carving were done by local craftsmen. The oak pulpit, choir stalls and alter rails are the work of Mr S L Reynolds. The font, originally given by the orange men of the district was transferred from the temporary Church.

SERVICES

SUNDAY 10.00am
SUNG EUCHARIST
Followed by coffee

SATURDAY
8.30am EUCHARIST

Followed by the
Walsingham cell
on the last Saturday of the month

THURSDAYS
9.15am EUCHARIST
AT SEMILONG COMMUNITY CENTRE
Followed by coffee

The Consecration Service in July 1909 was led by the choir of St Paul’s and many of the congregation including the two Church wardens, Mr Ellen and Mr Burnham, also came from St Paul’s to establish the new worshiping community. In the mean time the school had outgrown the iron building and it too had moved to permanent accommodation in Kingsthorpe Grove in 1906-leaving a spacious hall for parish and community use.

The building remained much as Holding last saw it before his death in 1910 until the insertion of two stained glass windows in the Lady Chapel in memory of the daughter of Alderman Frederick Ellen J.P. One of the first church wardens. The ceiling of the Lady Chapel with its plaster relief remained undecorated but served as a pattern for the chancel if and when it could be achieved. Modifications and embellishment only began after the first world war when the English alter with its Dorsal curtains were replaced by a carved reredos with retable and panelling extending across the entire width of the sanctuary as a memorial to those who had fallen in the Great War. The angels which stood aloft each corner of the Dorsal curtain were mounted on individual plinths in the Baptistery and a War Memorial erected in the west end of the North aisle. At the same time the tower clock was also installed as a memorial. A copy of an Italian painting in the National Gallery (now hidden by a curtain) was inserted into the reredos in the 1930’s during the incumbency of Canon John Winter and six candlesticks and altar cross, made by Knights of Wellingborough, were added through the generosity of Fr. Ronald Cox.

In 1957 new lighting was installed and the new East window was unveiled. The design by Christopher Webb, depicts a meditation on the Revelation to St. John the Divine in the centre flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist and representations and the Annunciation and Resurrection in smaller panels on either side. The original organ in the gallery above the North choir aisle was replaced in 1960 by an 1893 Henry Speechley instrument rescued from a bombed Church in Finchley, rebuilt by Davies and son and housed in the North transept. Further major redevelopment took place in 1972 when, under the leadership of Fr. David Palmer the original temporary building was demolished to make way for a new hall and vicarage.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary in 1984, Fr. Bob Miles re-ordered the Lady Chapel and the walls and ceiling were decorated in the medieval style envisaged by Holding. The plaster-work, painted in a striking gold, could now be seen to an advantage set of against the blue and red ceiling and white-washed walls. Additions during Fr. Herman Annis incumbency include the statue of Our Lady and a Crucifix above the pulpit.

In 1999, the centenary of the parish, Holy Trinity and Saint Paul’s joined together under the guidance of Fr. Peter Moseling incumbent of Holy Trinity at the time, to form a new benefice, and just as stone had been brought from the medieval Trinity chapel, so finial crosses for the porch and west end and interior furnishings were brought from the demolished St. Paul’s to mark the marriage of the two parishes.

The millennium year 2000 was marked by the re-ordering of the nave. With community life and worship much different know than in the Victorian and Edwardian era, the church built to hold six hundred, rarely, if ever, sees that number (if indeed it ever did) and the seating was reduced by clearing the North and South aisles, providing more space around the baptistery and creating a carpeted nave sanctuary. The former high alter of St Paul’s was brought into use as a nave altar and a new credence table made and given by Trinity school was positioned beneath the pulpit. At the same time, the War Memorial area was renovated with the inclusion of the memorial to the members of St. Paul’s Bible Class and marked off by the former Lady Chapel sanctuary rails from St. Paul’s. A new ’soft’ area was also set aside nearby for use by Toddlers during worship and tapestry hassocks to mark the millennium were made for the nave. Further hassocks were made for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

The work of restoration and renewal continues to ensure Holy Trinity Church remains a vibrant place of worship and as a witness to the love of God in this part of his kingdom. As we approach the centenary in 2009 it is our fervent prayer that we shall continue to grow in fellowship with all who seek to know God’s grace in their lives.