Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield

1128 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

September, 2018

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Solo

Reasons for trip

Mention Chesterfield churches and everyone immediately thinks of “St Mary and All Saints’ Church “:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/east_midlands/derbyshire/chesterfied_mary/index.html with the crooked spire. Very few people have come across Holy Trinity Church whose claim to fame is that Victorian railway engineer George Stephenson is buried in the chancel.

Holy Trinity is a large church on the edge of the town centre and surrounded by a large graveyard. It was build in 1837 on land given by the Duke of Devonshire when the population of Chesterfield had grown too large for the parish church of St Mary and All Saints’.

It is typical early C19th Gothic style church made of well dressed blocks of gritstone with a square tower at the west end topped by tall pinnacles.

Don’t be fooled by the tall pillar memorial in the graveyard to the memory of Harriet Stevenson and her husband George. They are no relation and nothing is known about them. So many visitors automatically assume this is THE George Stephenson, that a small plaque has been placed by the memorial stating that George Stephenson is buried in the church.

Entry is through the south door which leads into a large lounge area at the back of the church with a kitchen. Inside, it feels a large church with a big square nave with an open beamed ceiling and stained wood pews. It was originally designed for a gallery around three sides, but this was removed in the late C19th along with the box pews.

Tall lancet windows filled with diamonds of pastel shades of Victorian glass throw colour shadows on the walls, giving a colour cast to the photographs.

Hanging on the walls are banners which used in the Annual Christian Witness Procession on Spring Bank Holiday Monday. On the north wall is a display about George Stephenson with small models of Locomotion and Rocket.

The chancel is small compared to the rest of the church and reached through a pointed arch. On the left hand side is the pulpit. On the right is the organ with the stone font. This is octagonal with quatrefoils on each face.

The altar has carvings of flowers and foliage. Behind, on the east wall is a carved wood reredos with a cross and the symbols of the four evangelists.

George Stephenson is buried in a vault behind the altar and his grave is marked by a simple slab of Derbyshire stone with his initials and the date of death.

Immediately behind the altar is a large memorial stone provided by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. George Stephenson was their first president and they must have felt he deserved something a bit more elaborate. George’s wife Elizabeth who worshipped in the church, has a memorial stone on the wall.

The beautiful east window was installed in memory of George Stephenson by his son Robert. In the centre is the Last Supper. Above and below are intertwined monograms of GS.

The church is kept locked, although is open for Heritage Open Doors. I’d contacted the vicar through the church website who arranged for the churchwarden to open up for me. It is definitely worth a visit and not just for the George Stephenson connection!

The church is on Newbald Road and there is some parking available inside the grounds. The post code is S41 7PG and the grid reference is SK 382716.

There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/east_midlands/derbyshire/chesterfield_holytrinity/index.html

ESW

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.