Little is known of the early history of Holy Trinity, Guildford, although it may have been founded before 1066.
The first known written reference to the church dates to the 1170s, but it is likely that Henry I had given it to the Augustinian canons of Merton before 1120. Historians think that it was very similar in design to its sister church, St Mary’s. The Royal Oak pub includes part of the 15th century rectory.
Henry Norbridge was a prosperous wool merchant. He served as Mayor of Guildford several times and was also a churchwarden of Holy Trinity. In his will he left land to pay for a chantry priest who would pray for his soul. This land is still called The Chantries. He is commemorated by a brass plaque which was installed in the church in 1512. During the early part of Henry VIII’s reign Holy Trinity was a wealthy church with several altars and rich vestments. There were at least two fraternities in the parish, of St James and St John the Baptist. They supported their members who were suffering from sickness or misfortune, and provided a fitting funeral in due course.
Festivals, known as church ales, were held regularly. They raised money to fund parish expenses. By 1530 morris dancing was a feature of the church ales. In 1540, Sir Richard Weston built a family chapel on the south side of the church. It is the oldest part of the surviving building. The Reformation affected every church in the country. Like other Priories, Merton was dissolved and in 1538 Holy Trinity reverted to the king. The wall paintings were whitewashed over, the altars removed and a plain communion table installed.
George Abbot was born in Guildford and rose to become Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1633 he was buried in a beautiful tomb in the south transept of the church. He was archbishop at a time when there was increased tension in the Church between traditionalists and puritans. This tension was one of the factors that led to the start of the Civil War. The Rector of Holy Trinity was dismissed in 1645. Although the local puritans accused him of drunkenness and other faults, this may have been an excuse to get rid of a priest whose religious opinions they did not like.
When the wool trade collapsed in the mid-17th century there was widespread hardship. This even affected the Church. To save money Trinity and St Mary’s were combined under one rector in 1699.
The tower collapsed in 1740, demolishing most of the church. It was rebuilt in a very different style. The new church was built of brick with some decorative features of Portland Stone. The wide, flat ceiling will have pleased the clergymen as it gave the church excellent acoustics for preaching. In tune with the less complicated nature of Georgian worship, the interior of the church was simple with a small apse serving as the chancel. The new church was consecrated in 1763.
The congregation sat in wooden box pews. You can still see the pews that were reserved for the inmates of Abbot's Hospital. The wealthier townspeople sat in the body of the church with the lower classes in the galleries above. In 1869, the side galleries were removed leaving only the present west gallery.
During the Victorian period customs changed and they wanted a larger chancel with room for a choir. When the present chancel and transepts were built in 1888 a lot of earth had to be removed to make way for the foundations. It was piled in an L-shaped mound in the churchyard.
The northern transept became the chapel of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1902. The Diocese of Guildford was formed in 1927. Until Guildford Cathedral was finally consecrated in 1961 Holy Trinity served as a temporary or pro-cathedral. Since 1930 the Rector has been appointed by the Bishop of Guildford.
Holy Trinity continues today as the civic church of the town, with a thriving congregation and is also a venue for regular musical events.
Guildford Museum
Castle Arch
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3SX
Tel: 01483 444750
Email: museum@guildford.gov.uk