Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, is a

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...

, West Midlands, England. Above the chancel arch is an impressive doom wall-painting.

History

The church dates from the 12th century and is the only medieval church in Coventry that is still complete. It is long and has a spire high, one of the tallest non-cathedral spires in the UK. The church was restored in 1665–1668, and the tower was recased in 1826 by

Thomas Rickman Thomas Rickman (8 June 17764 January 1841) was an English architect and architectural antiquary who was a major figure in the Gothic Revival. He is particularly remembered for his ''Attempt to Discriminate the Styles of English Architecture'' ...

. The east end was rebuilt in 1786 and the west front by

Richard Charles Hussey Richard Charles Hussey (1806–1887), often referred to as R. C. Hussey, was a British architect. He was in partnership with Thomas Rickman from 1835, whose practice he assumed in 1838 with the latter's failing health; Rickman died on 4 January, ...

in 1843. The inside of the church was

restored ''Restored'' is the fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian musician Jeremy Camp. It was released on November 16, 2004, by BEC Recordings. Track listing Standard release Enhanced edition Deluxe gold edition Standard Aus ...

George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...

in 1854.

Doom painting

The doom wall-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 David Gee. 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 in 2004.

Organ

The church had a

pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurised air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a Musical keyboard, keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single tone and pitch, the pipes are provide ...

which had evolved over a long period of time with work by many builders, the last by

Henry Willis & Sons Henry Willis & Sons is a British firm of pipe organ builders founded in 1845. Although most of their installations have been in the UK, examples can be found in other countries. Five generations of the Willis family served as principals of th ...

. A specification of the organ can be found on the

National Pipe Organ Register The British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) is a British organisation and registered charity which aims to promote study and appreciation of all aspects of the pipe organ. Further, it acts as a lobbying body to raise awareness of organ issue ...

Timeline

*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 The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...

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: German Thomas Swarbrick, who also supplied a new organ for

Coventry Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Saint Michael, commonly known as Coventry Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry within the Church of England. The cathedral is located in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midla ...

(Old Cathedral), built one for Holy Trinity for £600. It was placed upon a gallery erected for it across the Nave and had two 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 three manuals plus pedals, was built by

Forster and Andrews Forster and Andrews was a British organ building company between 1843 and 1924. The company was formed by James Alderson Forster (1818–1886) and Joseph King Andrews (1820–1896), who had been employees of the London organ builder J. C. Bisho ...

for £800 *1900: Rebuilt by W. Hill & Sons with some of the old work incorporated; four 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 was to 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. Holy Trinity Church Coventry - HMS Coventry Falklands 1982 Memorial

Holy Trinity Church Coventry - HMS Coventry Falklands 1982 Memorial

Notable clergy

* Rob Budd, curate 2013–2016 * Tony Burford, curate * Hennie Johnston, curate 2003–2007 * James Hill, curate 2011–2013 * Anthony Francis Williams, curate 1950–1962 * Roy Windmill, curate 1967–1971

List of Vicars

Dates listed are of appointment, unless otherwise noted. *Ralph de Sove, (no dates known) *Henry de Harenhale, 1298 *John de Holland, 1334 *John Greneburgh, 1346 *Egidius Fillilod, 1349 *William Swet, 1380 *John de Amcotes, 1381 *John Brideston, (no dates known) *William Gamell, 1383 *Nicholas Crosloy, 1421 *John Meneley, 1443 *Thomas Bowde, (no dates known) *Thomas Orton, 1508 *Richard Collett, (no dates known) *Nicholas Darington, 1527 *Roger Capp, (no dates known) *William Benet, 1546 *George Brooche, 1554 *George Cheston, 1568 *Anthony Fletcher, 1576 *Humphrey Fenne, 1577 *Richard Eaton, 1590 *Thomas Cooper, 1604 *Samuel Gibson, 1610 *John Staresmore, 1618 *Samuel Buggs, 1626 * Henry Carpenter, 1633 *Joseph Brown, 1636 *Robert Proctor, 1638 * John Bryan, 1644 * Nathaniel Wanley, 1662 *Samuel Barton, 1680 *Jonathan Kimberley, 1681 *Samuel Kimberley, 1712 *John Macklin, 1734 *Nathaniel Gerard, 1752 *Joseph Rann, 1773 *John Davies, 1811 * Walter Farquhar Hook, 1828–1837 (afterwards Vicar of

Leeds Parish Church Leeds Minster, also known as the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds (formerly Leeds Parish Church), is the minster church of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of the oldest church in the city and is of architec ...

)The Deans: Cathedral Life, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Trevor Beeson. SCM-Canterbury Press Ltd, 2004. . *John Howells, 1837 *William Drake, 1857 *Alfred William Wilson, 1864 *Francis M. Beaumont, 1872–1912 *R. Basil Littlewood, 1912 *Acland F. O'N. Williams, 1929 *Graham W. Clitheroe, 1931 *Lawrence Jackson, 1965–1973 (later Provost of Blackburn) *Nigel Douglas Blayney Abbott, 1973–1980 (later Provost of Oban) * Graham Dow, 1981–1992 (later

Bishop of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary (officer), Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York. The diocese covers the county of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District. The Episcop ...

) * David Andrew Urquhart, 1992–2000 (later

Bishop of Birmingham The Bishop of Birmingham heads the Church of England Diocese of Birmingham, in the Province of Canterbury, in England. The diocese covers the North West of the historical county of Warwickshire and has its see in the City of Birmingham, Wes ...

) * Gordon Keith Sinclair, 2001–2007 (later Bishop of Birkenhead) *David Mayhew, 2009–2016 *Graeme Anderson, 2017-2021 *Richard Hibbert, from 2022

Stained glass windows

WTC Andy Mabbett DSC 6230c.jpg, ''The Brides' Window.'' East window by

Ninian Comper Sir John Ninian Comper (10 June 1864 – 22 December 1960) was a Scottish architect, one of the last of the great Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic Revival architects. His work almost entirely focused on the design, restoration and embellishm ...

(1956). WTC Andy Mabbett DSC 6273c.jpg, ''Te Deum''. West window by Hugh Ray Easton (1955). Christ in Majesty surrounded by Angels.jpg, ''Christ in Majesty''. South aisle, by

Geoffrey Webb Geoffrey Fairbank Webb CBE (9 May 1898 – 17 July 1970) was a British art historian, Slade Professor of Fine Art and head of the Monuments and Fine Arts section of the Allied Control Commission during World War II. Early life Webb was born in ...

(1933). Holy Trinity Church, Coventry - stained-glass window.jpg, Window in the south wall WTC Andy Mabbett DSC 6248c.jpg, Window in the north side of the Marler Chapel WTC Andy Mabbett DSC 6252c.jpg, Window in the east side of the Marler Chapel

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coventry, Holy Trinity Church Grade I listed churches in the West Midlands (county) Churches in Coventry George Gilbert Scott buildings Tourist attractions in Coventry Church of England church buildings in the West Midlands (county)