Sutton Coldfield - Holy Trinity
Sutton Coldfield's ancient parish church of Holy Trinity had long been on my to do' list, having failed to gain entry on my last visit a couple of years
ago. I'd been able to enjoy it's red sandstone exterior, with it's mixture of 15th century and Victorian elements, but it's internal appearance and contents
largely remained a mystery to me, until now.
ago. I'd been able to enjoy it's red sandstone exterior, with it's mixture of 15th century and Victorian elements, but it's internal appearance and contents
largely remained a mystery to me, until now.
I was very impressed by the interior with it's rich jumble of furnishings and painted ceilings, a real gem with plenty of interest. The church itself is somewhat altered (the outer north aisle is a Victorian extension), and the arcades are all curiously rounded from mid 16th century and later rebuildings and reveal galleries in the aisles. It all looked quite gloomy with so much red stone and dark woodwork, but C.E.Bateman's early 20th century ceiling decoration (nave, chancel and north chapel) is gorgeous and does much to cheer up an otherwise sombre interior.
The oldest feature within is the fine Norman font, carved with four projecting heads and interlacing blind arcading. It was originally in nearby Nether Whitacre church prior to it's Victorian rebuilding.
There is some especially fine Jacobean woodwork in the chancel screens and stalls, much having been ejected from Worcester Cathedral during Scott's restoration in the 1850s. There are also some interesting monuments, several fine tablets, a big Baroque piece with busts and the tomb and effigy of Bishop Vesey, apparently the original 1550s figure but looking so thoroughly renewed I was initially convinced it was a modern pastiche (Pevsner attributes too much tlc!).
There is some good glass, the east window is very
fruity 1850s by Gibbs,
but my favourite glass was the fine 1907 Supper at Emmaus
by Mary Lowndes,
along with the Yoxall & Whitford windows nearby in the
south chapel.
I had heard good things about this church after my first
attempted visit, so
after concluding my business in neighbouring Streetly I
came straight here. It
is unfortunately generally kept locked, so I tried
asking at the parish centre
opposite, and after an initially slightly
lukewarm reception (perhaps more
warning would have helped) a lady kindly offered to open up for me. I mentioned
I was eager to see the church and
it's furnishings as they are, having heard
about plans for a major reordering, though owing to the huge costs involved this
was dismissed as
being some way off, perhaps 5 or so years, so no concrete plans
just yet.
fruity 1850s by Gibbs,
but my favourite glass was the fine 1907 Supper at Emmaus
by Mary Lowndes,
along with the Yoxall & Whitford windows nearby in the
south chapel.
I had heard good things about this church after my first
attempted visit, so
after concluding my business in neighbouring Streetly I
came straight here. It
is unfortunately generally kept locked, so I tried
asking at the parish centre
opposite, and after an initially slightly
lukewarm reception (perhaps more
warning would have helped) a lady kindly offered to open up for me. I mentioned
I was eager to see the church and
it's furnishings as they are, having heard
about plans for a major reordering, though owing to the huge costs involved this
was dismissed as
being some way off, perhaps 5 or so years, so no concrete plans
just yet.
