Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield

Holy Trinity Parish Church is the parish church of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England.[1] It is Grade I listed[2] and gives its name to the ward in which it stands, Sutton Trinity.

Holy Trinity Parish Church
The church in April 2007
Map
52°33′50″N 1°49′13″W / 52.563854°N 1.820148°W / 52.563854; -1.820148
OS grid referenceSP1219096280
LocationSutton Coldfield, Birmingham
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.htsc.org.uk
History
Founded15th century or before
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed
Designated18 October 1949

History

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The first church on the site is thought to have been built in the 13th century, associated with the nearby Sutton Coldfield manor. The earliest part of the current building, the west tower, dates from the late 15th century.[2] In the 1530s, Bishop John Vesey extended the church with two side aisles and added an organ. In the 18th century, galleries, pews and bells were added to the church.

 
Memorial dedicated to Bishop John Vesey, in Vesey Gardens, located to the side of Holy Trinity Church

Inside the church are the tomb of Bishop Vesey,[3] as well as a font, acquired in the 19th century from the Church of St Lawrence, Over Winacre, Nottinghamshire.[2] The ornate, early 17th-century screens and panelling, fitted in 1875, were removed from the choir and organ casing of Worcester Cathedral in 1864.[2]

In 1835 the church built a chapel near Mere Green which later became St James' Church, Hill. In 1853 part of the parish was taken to form a new parish for St James' Church.

Organ

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Bishop Vesey gave an organ in the 1530s to be installed in the South Chapel. Little is known of its fate, but it probably disappeared during the English Civil War. A new organ was given by the curate in 1761. An organ of 8 speaking stops was installed in 1829 by Henry Bryceson.[4] This was replaced in 1865[5] with a 2 manual and pedal instrument by Gray and Davison[6] which later was sold to St Peter’s Church, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire. On 3 April 1900[7] a new instrument by Robert Hope-Jones at a cost of £1,500 was opened which was then updated by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1921. In 1950 a new organ was installed at a cost of £6000 by Hill, Norman and Beard.[8]

Organists

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Bells

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The church tower contains a peal of 8 bells, the third and fourth dating from 1795 by Thomas Mears and the rest from 1884 by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough. The tenor has weight of 1,189 kilograms (2,621 lb).[11]

Today

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Formerly in the mediaeval Diocese of Lichfield, the church now operates within the Diocese of Birmingham.[12]

The "Friends of Holy Trinity Parish Church" was established in September 2013 to raise funds for the church. The inaugural Patron was Andrew Mitchell MP. Their first scheduled event in November 2013 was the Royal Town Gala Concert, hosted by Don Maclean.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Holy Trinity Parish Church". Holy Trinity Parish Church. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1319961)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  3. ^ "History of the Building". Holy Trinity Parish Church. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  4. ^ "NPOR [R02159]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Sutton Coldfield. New Organ". Birmingham Daily Gazette. England. 10 February 1865. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ^ "NPOR [R02150]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Electric Organ at the Parish Church". Tamworth Herald. England. 7 April 1900. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Fine Organ for Parish Church". Sutton Coldfield News. England. 9 December 1950. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Organist". Warwickshire Herald. England. 29 October 1891. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  10. ^ "New Organist pulls out all the stops". Sutton Coldfield News. England. 6 January 1995. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, Holy Trinity". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Dovemaster. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Your Church". Anglican Diocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Holy Trinity Parish Church Launches New Era". Sutton Coldfield Observer. Retrieved 6 September 2013.

Further reading

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  • Thebridge, Stella, ed. (2020). Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield the Story of a Parish Church and Its People, 1250-2020. History Press. ISBN 9780750992527.
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