Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
| Holy Trinity Church, Coventry | |
|---|---|
 Holy Trinity Church (left) | |
 | |
| 52°24′31″N 01°30′32″W / 52.40861°N 1.50889°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.holytrinitycoventry.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Administration | |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Coventry |
| Parish | Coventry |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd David Mayhew (from 2009) |
Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, is a parish church of the Church of England located in Coventry City Centre, West Midlands, England.
Above the chancel arch is probably the most impressive Doom wall-painting now remaining in an English church.
History
The church dates from the 12th century and is the only Medieval church in Coventry which is still complete.[1][2] It is 59 metres (194 feet) long, and has a spire 72 metres (237 feet) high.
The church was restored in 1665–1668, and the tower was recased in 1826 by Thomas Rickman. The east end was rebuilt in 1786 and the west front by Richard Charles Hussey in 1843.
The inside of the church was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1854.
Doom painting
The doom painting was painted above the tower arch in 1430s. It was discovered in 1831, covered by a lime wash, and was then restored and varnished over by a local artist, David Gee.[1] In the years following, the varnish darkened and hid the painting from view again. In 1995, conservation and restoration work was begun and the painting was revealed 2004.[3]
Organ
The church had a pipe organ which had evolved over a long period of time with work by many builders, the last by Henry Willis and Sons. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[4]
History
- 1526: This is the earliest recorded organ, built by John Howe and John Clynmowe of London for £30. In the late 16th century it was dismantled as the Puritan clergy at Holy Trinity disapproved of organs.
- 1631: Samuel Buggs (Vicar), "procured" a replacement instrument.
- 1640s: Puritans back in charge, organ sold for £30.
- 1732: The German Thomas Swarbrick, who also supplied a new organ for Coventry Cathedral (Old Cathedral), built one for Holy Trinity for £600. It was placed upon a gallery erected for it across the Nave and had 2 manuals.
- 1829: Swell and pedal added.
- 1855–1861: As part of the George Gilbert Scott restoration of the church, a new organ chamber was built in the westernmost bay of the south chancel aisle. This instrument of 3 manuals plus pedals, was built by Forster and Andrews for £800.
- 1900: Rebuilt by W. Hill & Sons with some of the old work incorporated; 4 manuals.
- 1923: Electric blowing chest added.
- 1933: J. Charles Lee of Coventry added pneumatic pistons.
- 1961: Rebuilt for £12,200 by the firm of Henry Willis, the organ contained 59 speaking stops, each with 61 pipes, along with 30 couplers and 3 tremolos.
- 2007: Organ was dismantled, due to it being beyond repair. A funding appeal has been launched for a new organ, which will cost approximately £600,000.
List of Organists
 |
List of assistant organists
- Sullivan D.T. Mortimer ???? – ca.1900 (afterwards organist of St. Mary's Church, Atherstone)
- Norman Coke-Jephcott 1909–1911
- Harold Carpenter c.1950–60
- Peter Bourton c.1954–64. Afterwards Organist at St Marks, Bilton, Rugby.
|
List of Vicars
Dates listed are of appointment, unless otherwise noted.[14]
|
|
|
List of Curates.
- Anthony Francis Williams, c.1950–1962
- Roy Windmill, c.1967–1971
- Tony Burford
- Hennie Johnston 2003-2007
- James Hill, 2011–2013
- Rob Budd, 2013–2016
Stained glass windows
-
The Brides' Window. East window by Ninian Comper (1956). -
Te Deum. West window by Hugh Ray Easton (1955). -
Christ in Majesty. South aisle, by Geoffrey Webb (1933). -
Window in the south wall -
Window in the north side of the Marler Chapel -
Window in the east side of the Marler Chapel
See also
References
- ^ a b "Doom Fresco At Holy Trinity Church in Coventry". ArtDaily. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Warwickshire, Francis White & Co, 1850.
- ^ Collaboration in the Arts from the Middle Ages to the Present, Silvia Bigliazzi, Sharon Wood, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006. ISBN 0-7546-5512-1.
- ^ National Pipe Organ Register.
- ^ Temperley, Nicholas (1979) The Music of the English Parish Church; vol. 1. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph – Monday 16 January 1893
- ^ Leamington Spa Courier – Saturday 3 February 1866
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph – Tuesday 24 January 1899
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph – Friday 2 May 1902
- ^ North Devon Journal – Thursday 19 September 1907
- ^ Thornsby, Frederick W., ed. (1912) Dictionary of Organs and Organists. Bournemouth: Logan
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph – Saturday 13 July 1918
- ^ Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Saturday 31 October 1931
- ^ Names and dates taken from the carved wooden plaque in the Archdeacon's Court. The plaque was dedicated to the memory of Francis M. Beaumont and installed sometime in the early 20th century. Early dates may be approximate.
- ^ The Deans: Cathedral Life, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Trevor Beeson. SCM-Canterbury Press Ltd, 2004. ISBN 0-334-02987-2.