Holy Trinity Church, Bradford-on-Avon

Holy Trinity Church, Bradford-on-Avon
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	htboa.org
History
Founded	1150 (1150)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I Listed building
Style	Norman architecture
Clergy
Priest in charge	Joanna Abecassis

Holy Trinity Church, Bradford-on-Avon is a Grade I listed church ^[1] in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Church of England within the Anglican Communion and Diocese of Salisbury. The parish of Holy Trinity has been a part of the benefice of Bradford on Avon Holy Trinity, Westwood and Wingfield since 2013. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

History

The present church was built around 1150 and originally consisted of a chancel and nave. ^[5] The chancel was lengthened around the beginning of the 13th century, and a section of the south east wall rebuilt in 1707. In 2016, the sale of a Flemish masterpiece by Quentin Matsys funded a £2m refurbishment of the church. ^[6] A squint near the altar is claimed to be England's longest. The tower with spire was built around 1480, replacing an older one, and the south wall was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. ^[1] The church has a ring of eight bells, with the tenor (heaviest bell) weighing 29 long cwt 2 qr 26 lb (3,330 lb or 1,510 kg). ^{[7] [8]}

Leadership

As of 2021 ^[update] the rector is The Reverend Canon Joanna Margaret Abecassis, who previously completed a PhD in agricultural landownership at the University of Cambridge. ^[9] Abecassis took over as priest in charge in 2010 when her predecessor William Andrew Matthews retired. She has served as rector since 2013.

Previous leaders include:

• 1981–2010 William Andrew Matthews, Chaplain to the Queen ^{[10] [11]}
• 1973-1981 David Caldwell Ritche
• 1965–1973 David Inderwick Strangeways
• 1956–1965 Arthur Frederick Osborne
• 1944–1956 Claude Stanley Green
• 1937–1944 Philip Maurice Barry

References

1. Historic England. "Holy Trinity Church (1364540)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 24 August 2006.
2. "Home". htboa.org.
3. "Holy Trinity Parish Church, Church Street, Bradford on Avon". bradfordonavonmuseum.co.uk.
4. "Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
5. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1975) [1963]. Wiltshire. The Buildings of England (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 139. ISBN   0-14-0710-26-4.
6. Anon (2016). "Long-lost Flemish masterpiece funds £2m revamp of Wiltshire church". bbc.co.uk. BBC News.
7. "Bradford on Avon, Holy Trinity". dove.cccbr.org.uk. Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
8. "Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon, Bells on Sunday". bbc.co.uk. BBC Radio 4.
9. Abecassis, Joanna Margaret (1981). The development of the trust as a form of agricultural land ownership in England. cam.ac.uk (PhD thesis). University of Cambridge. OCLC   53547907. EThOS   uk.bl.ethos.236693.
10. Anon (2007). "Matthews, Rev. Canon William Andrew" . Who's Who (online Oxford University Press  ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U41709.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
11. "History – Holy Trinity".

51°20′48″N2°15′14″W / 51.3467°N 2.2539°W / 51.3467; -2.2539