Church Of Holy Trinity

Church of Holy Trinity

Parish church built over several centuries from the 13th century, with major phases in the 14th and 15th centuries, additions in the 18th century, and restoration in 1891. The building is constructed in ashlar and dressed coursed rubble with some red brick, with lead and slate roofs.

The church comprises a central nave with north and south aisles, a chancel, a north chapel, a south porch, and a prominent tower with spire. The tower is of 13th-century origin, built in dressed coursed rubble with ashlar quoins on a splayed plinth. It rises in three stages separated by bands and is topped with a corbel table and single corner pinnacles. The early 14th-century broach spire rises above, with two tiers of four lucarnes. The west side of the tower contains a single 13th-century lancet window with a smaller similar lancet above and two tie plates. The north, south and west sides each have single 13th-century arched bell chamber openings with two pointed arched lights and hood mouldings. The east bell chamber has a single pointed arched light and hood mould, with evidence of the former nave roof visible.

The nave and aisles are parapeted. The north aisle sits on a low chamfered plinth with further chamfering extending under the sills. A large stepped buttress projects from the west wall. The north wall contains a blocked round arched doorway, with two 18th-century round arched windows to the left. The clerestory has two rectangular lights. The north chapel's north wall has a single small lancet with a smaller similar lancet in the east wall.

The chancel is set on a low chamfered plinth and is notable for a large 14th-century east window with four lights and geometric tracery, hood mould and continuous sill band. The south wall has three pairs of 13th-century lancets. To the right of the left pair is a blocked chamfered arched doorway with hood mould and decorative label stops.

The south aisle sits on a chamfered plinth with a moulded band extending over. Its east wall has a single three-light arched window with hood mould. The south wall has two 14th-century three-light windows with cusped tracery, hood moulds and label stops, with two 'S' tie plates. The gabled south porch projects from the south aisle, set on a similar plinth, with a double chamfered arched entrance and two 'S' tie plates. The inner doorway is 14th-century with a moulded arch, hood mould and C17 stud door. The porch sides have brick benches. The west wall of the aisle has a single pair of arched and cusped lights.

Internally, the church displays significant medieval architectural detail. The nave has three bays with 14th-century arcades of hexagonal columns with moulded capitals on wide plinths. The arches are chamfered and moulded with hood moulds and single label stops on the south side. The southern responds are decorated with nailhead and supported on a carved human head. The tower arch is double chamfered with the outer order supported on colonnettes with shaft rings, hood mould and a single blocked opening above. The chancel arch is also double chamfered with octagonal responds and moulded capitals. The north aisle and north chapel are connected by a double chamfered arch, shortened on the north side and supported on the south by an octagonal respond with moulded capital.

The chancel and chapel have a two-bay arcade with a single circular column and octagonal responds with moulded capitals, with double chamfered arches. The south chancel has 14th-century tripartite arched and cusped sedilia supported on colonnettes with fillets, with a single arched and cusped piscina to the left. The north chancel wall has a 14th-century moulded arched tomb recess supported on single colonnettes with fillets. An ashlar bench sits under the south west window of the chancel. The south aisle south wall has a pointed arched piscina.

The chancel retains a 13th-century ashlar altar piece and altar rails with 17th-century turned balusters. The south aisle contains a 17th-century carved altar table and an oak chest with some 17th-century carving. A 14th-century octagonal ashlar font has a 17th-century cover. Remaining furniture is 19th-century. The 15th-century nave, chancel and aisle roofs have chamfered beams, with the nave roof also featuring carved bosses.

Floor slabs span many centuries. The tower contains the remains of two 13th-century ashlar coffins. The nave, chancel and south aisle have 18th and 19th-century floor slabs. The south aisle also has a worn 13th-century floor slab with incised carved figures. The north aisle contains two similar slabs, one of a 15th-century priest and the other showing 16th-century male and female figures. The north chapel has several 15th and 16th-century slabs including one of a female figure. The chancel has a 13th-century floor slab and another to Ann Darly, 1667.

The church is notable for several outstanding alabaster monuments. Against the south chancel wall is the monument to Henry Sacheverell, died 1625, featuring a recumbent knight with his head on a visor. The sides are decorated with shields and the front with three children flanked by inscriptions and decorative strips. Set into the wall above are kneeling figures of his three wives flanked by Corinthian columns supporting a cornice. Above this are two small panelled pilasters supporting a round arch with keystone containing a shield of arms, flanked by decorative strapwork.

Between the chancel and chapel stands the alabaster monument to Henry and Jane Sacheverell, dated about 1590, with sides decorated with figures, shields and strapwork, surmounted by two recumbent figures, the male in knight's attire.

The alabaster monument to Henry Sacheverell and his wife, dated 1558, is decorated around the sides with seventeen figures holding blind shields. The tomb is surmounted by two recumbent figures, the male in knight's attire with feet resting on a dog.

Set into the north wall of the chapel is the alabaster monument to Ralph Sacheverell and his wife, dated 1539. The sides of the tomb are decorated with cusped lozenges containing blind shields, with two recumbent figures and a niche above. The niche reveal is decorated with carved figures set into cusped arches and further decorated with cusped blind tracery. The soffits are also decorated with blind tracery.