Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town

Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town, is in Heath Town, a district of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Wolverhampton, the archdeaconry of Walsall, and the diocese of Lichfield. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.[1][2]

Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town, Wolverhampton
Holy Trinity Church, Heath Town
52°35′46.57″N 2°6′9.53″W
OS grid referenceSO 931 998
LocationHeath Town
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipOpen evangelical
Websitewww.htht.org.uk
History
StatusParish church
DedicationThe Holy Trinity
Consecrated1852
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II listed
Architect(s)Edward Banks
Architectural typeDecorated Gothic, Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking1849
Completed1852
Specifications
Length121 feet (37 m)
Width55 feet (17 m)
Height140 feet (43 m)
MaterialsStone and brick
Tiled roofs
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseLichfield
ArchdeaconryWalsall
DeaneryWolverhampton
ParishHoly Trinity Wednesfield Heath
Clergy
Vicar(s)Revd Richard Merrick
Curate(s)Revd Kate Tingle

History

The first church was built between 1850 and 1852 to the 1849 designs of architect Edward Banks. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Lichfield on 22 July 1852.[3]

It comprised a nave and aisles, with north porch and south entrance under the tower. The chancel had an organ chamber on the north side, separated by a stone screen and a vestry. The 6 bay nave was 85 feet (26 m) long and 26 feet (7.9 m) wide. The aisles were 14.5 feet (4.4 m) wide, making the total width 55 feet (17 m). The chancel was 36 feet (11 m) long and 19 feet (5.8 m) wide. The tower was 140 feet (43 m) high. The whole of the exterior and interior is dressed stone and the seats and doors made of oak. The chancel floor was laid with Minton encaustic tiles. It was constructed by G and F Higham of Wolverhampton.[4]

Interior

According to Pevsner Holy Trinity is 'A well-proportioned example of an Ecclesiological church with good interior features.'[5]

Churchyard

The church is surrounded by a large churchyard which is still used for burials. The initial area closest to the church, known as the 'Old Ground', opened with the church in 1852. Since then the churchyard has been extended several times and now covers approximately seven acres in an irregular shape.

Two structures in the churchyard have been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed buildings. These are the lych gate[6] which is also a war memorial and dates from c.1920 and the Jacobean style almshouses[7] of c.1850, restored 1996.[8]

Graves of historical interest

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of Holy Trinity, Wolverhampton (1282493)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  2. "Church of Holy Trinity, Wolverhampton". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  3. "Wolverhampton". Staffordshire Advertiser. Stafford. 17 July 1852. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. "Consecration of a new church at Wednesfield Heath". Staffordshire Advertiser. Stafford. 24 July 1852. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  5. Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974), Staffordshire, The Buildings of England, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, p. 321, ISBN 0-14-071046-9
  6. Historic England. "Lych Gate to East of Church of Holy Trinity (1205484)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  7. Historic England. "Holy Trinity Almshouses to West of Church of Holy Trinity (1201798)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  8. Wolverhampton Listed Buildings - Almshouses, Wolverhampton History and Heritage Website, retrieved 7 November 2012
  9. Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Search for 'Heath Town'
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