Holy Trinity Church, Nailsea
Encyclopedia
Holy Trinity Church is an Anglican Church in Nailsea
, Somerset
, England. It dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building. It features a tower with 6 Bells
, a cemetery
, and a community
centre called "The Trinity Centre".
. The four stage tower has a pointed arched west door with two and three-light windows at each level. It is supported with diagonal buttress
es and surmounted with a parapet
, pinnacle
s, spire
and weathervane.
The Church was significantly refurbished in 2003/2004 to make it more modern and flexible in its usage. The changes included the removal of the pew
s, being replaced with single movable chairs and the removal of the balcony
. New heating and lighting was installed along with a new wooden floor and the addition of a Baptistry.
stands on a pedestal against the north wall. It was probably donated by the Mede family who lived at Failand Hill and carries their family crest. The Medes were also associated with St Mary Redcliffe
, with Thomas Mede holding office as High Sheriff of Bristol
and Member of Parliament
for Bristol
in the 15th century.
The font
has various devices on its side panels including a Tudor rose
and the five Holy Wounds
. A specific pew was set aside for the owners of Nailsea Court
.
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. It dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building. It features a tower with 6 Bells
Church bell
A church bell is a bell which is rung in a church either to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding, funeral, or other service...
, a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, and a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
centre called "The Trinity Centre".
History and architecture
The porch dates from 1712 and was restored in 1861 at the expense of Mr C.E. Evans of Nailsea CourtNailsea Court
Nailsea Court in Nailsea, Somerset, England dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building.-History:Richard Perceval, who was born at Nailsea Court deciphered Spanish documents for Queen Elizabeth about the Spanish Armada invasion plans....
. The four stage tower has a pointed arched west door with two and three-light windows at each level. It is supported with diagonal buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es and surmounted with a parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
, pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s, spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
and weathervane.
The Church was significantly refurbished in 2003/2004 to make it more modern and flexible in its usage. The changes included the removal of the pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
s, being replaced with single movable chairs and the removal of the balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
. New heating and lighting was installed along with a new wooden floor and the addition of a Baptistry.
Fittings
The octagonal stone pulpitPulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
stands on a pedestal against the north wall. It was probably donated by the Mede family who lived at Failand Hill and carries their family crest. The Medes were also associated with St Mary Redcliffe
St Mary Redcliffe
St. Mary Redcliffe is an Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Constructed from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the church is a Grade 1 listed building, St...
, with Thomas Mede holding office as High Sheriff of Bristol
High Sheriff of Bristol
This is a list of High Sheriffs of the County of City of Bristol, England.The office of High Sheriff is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest...
and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
in the 15th century.
The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
has various devices on its side panels including a Tudor rose
Tudor rose
The Tudor Rose is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the Tudor dynasty.-Origins:...
and the five Holy Wounds
Holy Wounds
The Five Holy Wounds or Five Sacred Wounds refer to what are believed to be the five piercing wounds that was suffered during the crucifixion of Jesus....
. A specific pew was set aside for the owners of Nailsea Court
Nailsea Court
Nailsea Court in Nailsea, Somerset, England dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building.-History:Richard Perceval, who was born at Nailsea Court deciphered Spanish documents for Queen Elizabeth about the Spanish Armada invasion plans....
.