Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge
Encyclopedia
Holy Trinity Church is a church in Market Street
, central Cambridge
, England
, on the corner with Sidney Street
. Its current vicar is Rupert Charkham, and theologically, it stands within the open evangelical
tradition of the Church of England
. Together with St Andrew the Great, it is one of the more popular student churches in Cambridge.
and was just a small thatched timber building.
This burnt down in 1174.
In 1189, a new stone Holy Trinity Church was begun. Today the stonework of the west wall under the tower is all that remains from the church of this time.
By around 1350, money was raised to widen the nave
and add two aisle
s. In c.1348, a steeple
was added to the tower
. Around 1400, two transepts were constructed in the Perpendicular style.
In the time of the English Reformation
(1550–1750), Holy Trinity Church developed further. In 1616, a gallery was erected along the north side of the nave
for the increased size of the congregation.
Between 1782–1836, Holy Trinity Church was at the centre of spiritual life in Cambridge. The ministry of Charles Simeon
(1759–1836) at Holy Trinity Church started when he was appointed vicar by the Bishop of Ely
, against the wishes of the churchwardens and congregation at the time, who disliked his evangelicalism
. In 1794, Simeon introduced a barrel organ
with sixty hymn tunes into the church.
Apart from the repair to the lower section of the steeple in 1824 and painting/varnishing inside the church, Simeon made no structural alterations until 1834. Then the small chancel
with 14th century ribbed vaulting was demolished and replaced with the current much larger extension, constructed of brick and plaster. These changes were made without an architect. Simeon was also one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society in 1799.
The Church continued to flourish with its evangelistic reputation during Victorian times
. In 1887, the chancel was finished in stone, the pews were replaced, choir stalls added, and most of the galleries removed. In the same year, the Henry Martyn Memorial Hall was built next to the church as a centre for Christian
undergraduates at the University of Cambridge
. Between 1873–1889, there were c.140 offers to the Church Mission Society. In 1885, the Cambridge Seven
went to China
, inspiring other Christian missionaries.
Market Street, Cambridge
Market Street is a shopping street in central Cambridge, England. It runs between Market Hill, location of the city's central Market Square to the west and Sidney Street to the east. On the other side of the market square, the street continues west as St Mary's Street north of Great St Mary's, the...
, central Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the corner with Sidney Street
Sidney Street, Cambridge
Sidney Street is a major street in central Cambridge, England. It runs between Bridge Street at the junction with Jesus Lane to the northwest and St Andrew's Street at the junction with Hobson Street to the southeast....
. Its current vicar is Rupert Charkham, and theologically, it stands within the open evangelical
Open Evangelical
Open Evangelical refers to a particular Christian school of thought or Churchmanship, primarily in the United Kingdom...
tradition of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Together with St Andrew the Great, it is one of the more popular student churches in Cambridge.
History
The first Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge was next to the old Roman roadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
and was just a small thatched timber building.
This burnt down in 1174.
In 1189, a new stone Holy Trinity Church was begun. Today the stonework of the west wall under the tower is all that remains from the church of this time.
By around 1350, money was raised to widen the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and add two aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s. In c.1348, a steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
was added to the tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
. Around 1400, two transepts were constructed in the Perpendicular style.
In the time of the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
(1550–1750), Holy Trinity Church developed further. In 1616, a gallery was erected along the north side of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
for the increased size of the congregation.
Charles Simeon
Charles Simeon , was an English evangelical clergyman.He was born at Reading, Berkshire and educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. In 1782 he became fellow of King's College, and took orders, receiving the living of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, in the following year...
(1759–1836) at Holy Trinity Church started when he was appointed vicar by the Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
, against the wishes of the churchwardens and congregation at the time, who disliked his evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
. In 1794, Simeon introduced a barrel organ
Barrel organ
A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
with sixty hymn tunes into the church.
Apart from the repair to the lower section of the steeple in 1824 and painting/varnishing inside the church, Simeon made no structural alterations until 1834. Then the small chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
with 14th century ribbed vaulting was demolished and replaced with the current much larger extension, constructed of brick and plaster. These changes were made without an architect. Simeon was also one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society in 1799.
The Church continued to flourish with its evangelistic reputation during Victorian times
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. In 1887, the chancel was finished in stone, the pews were replaced, choir stalls added, and most of the galleries removed. In the same year, the Henry Martyn Memorial Hall was built next to the church as a centre for Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
undergraduates at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Between 1873–1889, there were c.140 offers to the Church Mission Society. In 1885, the Cambridge Seven
Cambridge Seven
The Cambridge Seven were seven students from Cambridge University, who in 1885, decided to become missionaries in China; the seven were:*Charles Thomas Studd*Montagu Harry Proctor Beauchamp*Stanley P. Smith*Arthur T. Polhill-Turner*Dixon Edward Hoste...
went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, inspiring other Christian missionaries.
See also
- Thomas Rawson BirksThomas Rawson BirksThomas Rawson Birks , theologian and controversialist, was born on 28 September 1810 at Staveley in Derbyshire, England. He figured in the debate to try to resolve theology and science. He rose to be a Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy...
, vicar from 1866–1877 - Church of St Mary the Great, the University church on Senate House Hill to the west