Church Of Holy Trinity

The Church of Holy Trinity is a substantial medieval parish church with origins in the 12th century and successive building campaigns through the 13th, 14th, 15th and early 16th centuries. The spire collapsed in 1660, and the transepts were reduced in height in 1673. The chancel underwent restoration in 1848, with further comprehensive restoration of the remainder between 1893 and 1910. The church was founded by Earl Roger de Clare and became a possession of Cirencester Abbey in 1133.

The building is constructed of ironstone with limestone bands and dressings beneath lead roofs. Throughout, the church features plinths, string courses and moulded parapets and gables. The plan comprises a west tower, nave with clerestory, north and south aisles each with porches, a Lady chapel, south chapel, chancel and sanctuary under a continuous roof, and a crypt.

Tower and West Front

The three-stage west tower dates to circa 1225 with 14th-century modifications. It has three angle buttresses and clasping buttresses, plinths and string courses, four pinnacles and a pyramidal roof topped with a finial and wind vane. The west side displays a roll-moulded doorway of five orders with ringed shafts and responds, incorporating a reset late 12th-century arch decorated with zigzag bands. Above the door sit three round relieving arches. The south side has three similar arches.

The second stage shows to the north two blocked 14th-century openings, the left containing a lancet, and to their right a blocked 13th-century roll-moulded opening with shafts—all with hood moulds. To the west stands a partly blocked late 14th-century double lancet now housing a moulded clock dial. The bell stage features on each face two cusped transomed double lancet openings with hood moulds. At the north-east corner rises a hexagonal stair turret with plinth and string courses, crowned by a 19th-century spire with a tier of lucarnes.

Nave and Clerestory

The 15th-century clerestory has a single bellcote on the east gable. Either side displays seven plain three-light windows with four-centred arched heads. The nave arcades date to the early 13th century and were raised in the mid-13th century, forming five bays that incorporate a circa 1200 crossing at the east end. They feature round and square piers with filleted shafts and similar responds with rings. The western arches are triple-chamfered, the eastern arches double-coved, all with hood moulds. A moulded rood stair doorway appears to the north-east. Above runs a sill band with plain clerestory windows. The roof is an early 20th-century queen post construction.

North Aisle and Porch

The 13th-century north aisle of four bays has to the north four buttresses and one to the west, each with two set-offs. The north side displays three restored plain Perpendicular triple lancets with hood moulds and mask stops, with a similar window at the west end. The 14th-century north porch has a roll-moulded doorway with triple shafts, hood mould and stops, fitted with two-leaf 17th-century studded doors. The gable is decorated with crocketed pinnacles. The porch has a slab roof and a vaulted interior with a roll-moulded inner doorway. To its left stands a lean-to enclosure covering winder stairs to the crypt.

The north aisle's west end features a 13th-century moulded doorway to the tower with a mid-17th-century door. The east windows retain 13th-century surrounds. The east end has an early 14th-century double-chamfered arch into the former transept, and further east a triple-chamfered arch with shafts and a traceried oak screen dated 1935 leading to the Lady chapel. The roof features moulded cambered tie-beams restored circa 1660.

Lady Chapel

The Lady chapel dates to the 13th century but was refenestrated in the 15th century. This three-bay structure has at the north-east corner a complex external pier with a gabled frieze topped by a spire. The north side displays three transomed Perpendicular lancets and to their right a 13th-century moulded doorway. The east end has a 13th-century triple lancet with intersecting tracery, its lower light blocked by a 19th-century lean-to vestry in Perpendicular style. All openings have hood moulds.

Internally, the Lady chapel has chamfered and moulded sill bands. The north side shows to the east a 14th-century tomb recess and three windows with linked hood moulds. The east end has a 1931 stained glass window flanked by single square brackets, and to the east a 14th-century ogee piscina. The south side has a two-bay 14th-century arcade towards the chancel. The roof is renewed with cambered tie-beams and arch braces.

To the east, the remodelled former transept has three buttresses (the central one largest) and two blocked arches. In the east arch sits a plain late 13th-century double lancet; in the west arch, a Perpendicular triple lancet.

South Aisle and Porch

The buttressed late 13th-century south aisle of four bays has to the south three tall plain triple lancets with shafts, hood moulds and mask stops. The 13th- and 14th-century south porch has a moulded doorway with ringed shafts, gable and crocketed pinnacles, and slab roof. The vaulted interior has a roll-moulded inner doorway.

Internally, the south aisle has a moulded sill band. The south side retains to the east the remains of a 14th-century double piscina. The east end has a triple-coved 14th-century arch with hood mould and three reset mask stops into the former transept. Further east stands a double-chamfered arch with a clustered pier to the south and round respond to the north, with hood mould and mask stops. The early 20th-century roof has moulded tie-beams and purlins.

South Chapel

The two-bay south chapel to the east has two blocked arches flanking a central plain buttress. The smaller arch to the left contains a 13th-century triple lancet with spherical triangles above. The larger eastern arch has a similar cusped window and to its left a restored priest's door. The east end has a Perpendicular four-light lancet. All openings have hood moulds and stops.

Internally, the north side has a reset two-light low side window and above it a 12th-century corbel table. The roof is renewed, similar to the south aisle.

Chancel and Sanctuary

The mid-14th-century sanctuary east end displays a cusped five-light lancet with panel tracery and hood mould with mask stops, flanked by single angle buttresses with octagonal upper parts topped with spires. The chancel south side has a near-central buttress. To its left sit two blocked arches, the right containing a 19th-century Geometrical triple lancet. To the right stands a restored Perpendicular triple lancet with blocked lower lights, both with hood moulds. Above to the left appear three late 12th-century round-headed windows and above them a 12th-century corbel table. Above and to the left again sits a 19th-century two-light window.

Internally, the chancel has an early 14th-century triple hollow-chamfered arch with hood mould and stops and clustered shaft responds. A low 20th-century oak screen stands beneath. The altered north and south arcades of four bays have narrower western bays with quatrefoil piers with crocketed corbels. The eastern bays have square piers mostly with flanking shafts and crocketed corbels. The north arcade has roll-moulded western arches and a double-chamfered eastern arch. The south arcade has simpler double-chamfered arches. All have hood moulds. The north-west corner has a chamfered rood loft doorway.

The sanctuary north side has a 15th-century doorway and a 20th-century aumbry. The east end has a Perpendicular style wooden reredos from 1927. The south side retains remains of a late 13th-century canopied triple piscina and a damaged 14th-century canopied quadruple sedilia. To the west stands a stained glass window from 1912. Above runs a sill band and five unglazed 12th-century windows with linked hood mould.

The chancel and sanctuary have a renewed low-pitched arch-braced roof with high-quality beast and mask corbels.

Crypt

The rare two-bay early 13th-century crypt has a chamfered ribbed vault and contains the bones of some 1,500 persons. The east end shows traces of wall painting.

Tower Chamber and Other Features

The interior includes a 14th-century vaulted tower chamber with bosses and bell hole, and a late 13th-century moulded tower arch with filleted shafts and naturalistic capitals.

Fittings and Memorials

Fittings include an unusual hexagonal 13th-century font with detached ringed angle shafts. The church retains restored 14th-century traceried stalls with figure finials and eight misericords. An 18th-century baluster-type altar rail survives, along with a brass chandelier dated 1733. Royal Arms from the late 15th century are present. A 19th- and 20th-century pulpit, lectern and chairs furnish the church. A panelled marquetry screen from 1922 was made from 17th-century panels.

Memorials include three 13th-century coffin lids and an incised lid from 1309. A brass commemorates William de Rowell, died 1361. Two chest tombs survive, one with brasses to Owen Ragsdale, died 1591, with Latin inscription. A pedimented Classical painted marble tablet with Latin inscription commemorates Andrea Lane, died 1694. A painted marble hanging cartouche with apron and Latin inscription commemorates Elizabeth Lane, died 1694. Two marble tablets from the mid and late 18th century are present, along with six 19th-century tablets. Wooden war memorial tablets commemorate 1918 and 1945.