Old Holy Trinity Church, Wentworth
Encyclopedia
The Old Holy Trinity Church, Wentworth, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the village of Wentworth
, South Yorkshire
, England . It is partly in ruins, and stands close to a newer church also dedicated to the Holy Trinity
. The old church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
. A new church, designed by J. L. Pearson
was built nearby in 1872–76. The nave
of the old church was dismantled in the later part of the 19th century. In 1925 the chancel
and a chapel were restored for William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam
. Further renovation was carried out in 1985. Holy Trinity was declared redundant on 12 February 1975, and was vested
in the Trust on 2 July 1976.
sandstone
and the rest of the church in rubble
sandstone. The roofs of the chancel and chapel are in stone slate. Its plan consists of a west tower, a partly ruined five-bay
nave, and a chancel with a north chapel. The truncated tower has two stages. In the lower stage is a small west window, and in the upper stage are two-light bell openings. Only the south wall of the nave remains. This has a central protruding doorway flanked by Ionic
pilaster
s, and round-arched windows without tracery
or glass. The chancel has a central south door with a cartouche
above it, on each side of which are two-light round-headed windows. Both the chapel and the chancel have three-light windows. On the north wall are a two-light and a three-light window, while on the west wall are two three-light windows. Inside the chancel is a chancel arch and a two-bay arcade
. There are a number of memorials, the most important of which are to the Earls of Strafford
and other members of the Wentworth family. Other fittings have been removed. In the west end of the chancel are steps leading down to the Fitzwilliam vault
.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in the village of Wentworth
Wentworth, South Yorkshire
Wentworth is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,223.- History :...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England . It is partly in ruins, and stands close to a newer church also dedicated to the Holy Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
. The old church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
History
The tower dates from the 14th–15th century, while the rest of the church was rebuilt in 1684 for William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of StraffordWilliam Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford
William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford was a member of England's House of Lords.He was a son of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford and his second wife Arabella Holles. When his father, Thomas, was executed in 1641, William left the Kingdom of England for several years. In 1652 he was...
. A new church, designed by J. L. Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson was a Gothic Revival architect renowned for his work on churches and cathedrals. Pearson revived and practised largely the art of vaulting, and acquired in it a proficiency unrivalled in his generation.-Early life and education:Pearson was born in Brussels, Belgium on 5...
was built nearby in 1872–76. 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...
of the old church was dismantled in the later part of the 19th century. In 1925 the 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...
and a chapel were restored for William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam
William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam
William Charles de Meuron Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam was a British aristocrat. He was born in Pointe de Meuron, Canada and died at the family's seat...
. Further renovation was carried out in 1985. Holy Trinity was declared redundant on 12 February 1975, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 2 July 1976.
Architecture
The tower is constructed in ashlarAshlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and the rest of the church in rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
sandstone. The roofs of the chancel and chapel are in stone slate. Its plan consists of a west tower, a partly ruined five-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave, and a chancel with a north chapel. The truncated tower has two stages. In the lower stage is a small west window, and in the upper stage are two-light bell openings. Only the south wall of the nave remains. This has a central protruding doorway flanked by Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s, and round-arched windows without tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
or glass. The chancel has a central south door with a cartouche
Cartouche
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an ellipse with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu, replacing the earlier serekh...
above it, on each side of which are two-light round-headed windows. Both the chapel and the chancel have three-light windows. On the north wall are a two-light and a three-light window, while on the west wall are two three-light windows. Inside the chancel is a chancel arch and a two-bay arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
. There are a number of memorials, the most important of which are to the Earls of Strafford
Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford is a title that has been created three times in English and British history.The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1640 for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, the close advisor of King Charles I...
and other members of the Wentworth family. Other fittings have been removed. In the west end of the chancel are steps leading down to the Fitzwilliam vault
Burial vault (tomb)
A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...
.