Holy Trinity Gough Square
Encyclopedia
Holy Trinity Gough Square was a Victorian
parish church in the City of London
.
's in the City of London, on the initiative of the vicar, the Reverend Thomas Dale, who felt that the parish church was inadequate for the size of the population. He first proposed a schoolroom that would double as an occasional chapel, but soon found that it would be practical to build a church, funded by subscriptions, and grants from the Church Commissioners
and the Metropolitan fund for the erection of churches. The first stone was laid on 3 October 1837, and the building was consecrated on 21 June the next year. The architect was John Shaw (Junior).
The church was built on a small, triangular site, at the junction of Great New Street and Pemberton Row, given by the Goldsmiths Company.
The main body of the church was hexagonal, with a large octagonal recess on the eastern side serving as a chancel. Two galleries supported on small iron columns ran around the church, with an organ in the upper gallery on the west side, over the main entrance. The exterior was faced in yellow brick, with round-headed windows. There was Norman-style tower topped by pinnacles.
The church seated 1100, half in free seats, the others rented at between 3 and 6 shillings a year. The social reformer Charles Booth
noted it served the area’s poorer citizens.
As the century wore on legislation
was passed to reduce the number of City churches and after a short, but worthy, existence the then Bishop of London
authorised the reunification of the two parishes, the proceeds from the sale going towards the building of St Mellitus, Hanwell.
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...
parish church in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
History
Trinity Church was built in the parish of St BrideSt Bride's Church
St Bride's Church is a church in the City of London, England. The building's most recent incarnation was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672 on Fleet Street in the City of London, though Wren's original building was largely gutted by fire during the London Blitz in 1940. Due to its location on...
's in the City of London, on the initiative of the vicar, the Reverend Thomas Dale, who felt that the parish church was inadequate for the size of the population. He first proposed a schoolroom that would double as an occasional chapel, but soon found that it would be practical to build a church, funded by subscriptions, and grants from the Church Commissioners
Church Commissioners
The Church Commissioners is a body managing the historic property assets of the Church of England. It was set up in 1948 combining the assets of Queen Anne's Bounty, a fund dating from 1704 for the relief of poor clergy, and of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners formed in 1836...
and the Metropolitan fund for the erection of churches. The first stone was laid on 3 October 1837, and the building was consecrated on 21 June the next year. The architect was John Shaw (Junior).
The church was built on a small, triangular site, at the junction of Great New Street and Pemberton Row, given by the Goldsmiths Company.
The main body of the church was hexagonal, with a large octagonal recess on the eastern side serving as a chancel. Two galleries supported on small iron columns ran around the church, with an organ in the upper gallery on the west side, over the main entrance. The exterior was faced in yellow brick, with round-headed windows. There was Norman-style tower topped by pinnacles.
The church seated 1100, half in free seats, the others rented at between 3 and 6 shillings a year. The social reformer Charles Booth
Charles Booth (philanthropist)
Charles Booth was an English philanthropist and social researcher. He is most famed for his innovative work on documenting working class life in London at the end of the 19th century, work that along with that of Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree influenced government intervention against poverty in the...
noted it served the area’s poorer citizens.
As the century wore on legislation
Union of Benefices Act 1860
The Union of Benefices Act was a necessary piece of legislation to reduce the number of parish churches in the City of London as the residential population declined in the second half of the 19th century.Churches affected were...
was passed to reduce the number of City churches and after a short, but worthy, existence the then Bishop of London
Arthur Winnington-Ingram
Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram KCVO PC was Bishop of London from 1901 to 1939.-Early life and career:He was born in Worcestershire, the fourth son of the Revd Edward Winnington-Ingram and of Louisa...
authorised the reunification of the two parishes, the proceeds from the sale going towards the building of St Mellitus, Hanwell.