Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland

Western (front) elevation

Holy Trinity is a former church in Sunderland. It was opened in 1719 as the church for the newly created Parish of Sunderland.^[1]

It is a listed building and is one of the oldest buildings in the East End of Sunderland.^[1][2]

It is unknown who built the church, but what is known for sure is that Daniel Newcombe — who was appointed rector — and William Etty were involved in some of its design.^[3][4] A plaque marking its Grade I listed building status credits Etty as the designer.^[5] In its early years, the building was also home to the Select Vestrymen — in effect the town council^{[citation needed]} — and the library^[5] and the mechanical fire pump.^{[citation needed]}

The church is no longer in use for worship, having closed in 1988, and is now owned by the Churches Conservation Trust.^[4] It is also used by Sunderland Old Township Heritage Society, the Donnison School, the Rector Gray Society and the communities of Hendon and Old Sunderland during "Heritage Days".

History

• 1712 — Local merchants campaign for a new church to be built.
• 1719 — First recorded baptisms, of Primus Barwick and Mary Whiton, on July 25.
• 1719 — Church consecrated on September 5.
• 1735 — Near-circular apse with Venetian window added by Daniel Newcombe, as the church initially had no chancel.^[6]
• 1803 — Gallery added.Roof reconstructed by Thomas Wilson and windows re-glazed.
• 1838 — Memorial erected to Revd Robert Gray, rector from 1819 to 1838.
• 1856 — Clockface on tower added.^[7]
• 1842 — Gallery extension constructed, but later removed.
• 1900 (circa) — Windows re-glazed for the second time.
• 1936 — Organ built.
• 1939-1945 — slight war damage.
• 1980s — building in need of expensive repairs.
• 1988 — cost of renovation and dwindling congregation cause the final service to be held on June 26, and church the closes a few days later.

Gallery

• 

  Jack Crawford memorial in the graveyard

• 

  Southern (side) elevation

• 

  View of apse with tower in background

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Tyne and Wear
• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England

References

1. ^ ^{a b} BBC Wear Online. "Holy Trinity Church - photo gallery (image 1)". http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/holy_trinity_church_gallery.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
2. ^ Wearside Online. "Holy Trinity Church". http://www.wearsideonline.com/holy_trinity_church.html. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
3. ^ "tomorrows-history.com - Church of the Holy Trinity". Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070911115134/http://www.tomorrows-history.com/CommunityProjects/PG0100060001/Holy+Trinity.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Sunderland Public Library Service. "Local Studies Centre Factsheet No. 3 - Old Sunderland Parish Church" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927201752/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries/Leaflets/Old+Parish+Church.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
5. ^ ^{a b} BBC Wear Online. "Holy Trinity Church - photo gallery (image 4)". http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/holy_trinity_church_gallery.shtml?4. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 
6. ^ Church Gazetteer. "Sunderland, Holy Trinity". Archived from the original on 2004-03-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20040328153741/http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/GazatteerChurch.asp?ChurchID=g_183. Retrieved 2004-04-07. 
7. ^ BBC Wear Online. "Holy Trinity Church - photo gallery (image 3)". http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/holy_trinity_church_gallery.shtml?3. Retrieved 2007-04-07. 

Coordinates: 54°54′28″N 1°22′08″W / 54.907714°N 1.369006°W / 54.907714; -1.369006