Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

A Roman Catholic church built in 1826 to a Classical design by architect J M Derick. The church has a rectangular footprint oriented with the sanctuary to the east, and a chapel added to the south in 1888.

The publicly-visible elevations to the north, east and west are constructed of Chipping Norton limestone ashlar, while the south elevation is of squared and coursed rubble stone. The roof is now flat, having originally been hipped, with timber-framed windows throughout.

The north elevation is the most prominent, facing the road. It comprises five bays and is now perfectly symmetrical following the loss of the western bell tower. The end bays project slightly, each containing a round-headed niche above an entrance porch. The west door serves as the main entrance to the church, while the east door gives access to the crypt. Both entrance porches feature square-headed doorways with corner pilasters and arched windows to the sides. The pediment of each porch is formed from a large shell niche with sunburst incisions, containing a globe surmounted by a cross, with ammonite scrolls flanking the niche. The original four-panelled paired doors are retained at both entrances. The three central bays have tall round-headed windows with square mouldings creating spandrels. Above runs a square cornice beneath a rebuilt parapet that reproduces the original design, including open-work sections. The east elevation has a recessed central bay flanked by broad pilasters, with a round-headed window, while the west elevation contains a niche topped by ornamental brackets supporting a dentil cornice. The south elevation is simpler, without a parapet, and has projecting outer bays. The three arched nave windows on this side date from 1966, replacing blind openings with glazed lunettes; a blind opening remains in the projecting western bay. The south chapel, also of coursed rubblestone, has a frieze, cornice and parapet but no other ornamentation.

The interior is plain and has lost most of its original finishes and furnishings, with much of the current arrangement dating from the 1960s onwards. A flat coffered ceiling replaced the original segmental ceiling in 1966. Stone flooring dates from 1999. The west gallery was lowered in 1888, though the segmental ceiling beneath it survives. The current gallery front and glazed screen below it were installed in 1999, as were the stairs to the gallery within the vestibule. Sanctuary furnishings and pews also date from 1999. The Lady Chapel is lit by a central lantern and contains a Gothic Heythrop altar against the west wall. An east window of 1873 depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary survives from the 19th century, as does a Gothic font, probably dating to the 1880s, now positioned under the gallery but originally in the south aisle.

Sacristies are situated between the church and the presbytery to the north. The eastern wall of the eastern sacristy aligns with the east elevation of the church and is in corresponding style, featuring a pair of small round-headed windows at ground floor level. While few original internal features survive, an 1880s stair with chamfered newels and Gothic finials leads to the former organ loft, which retains a coffered ceiling.