Stratford – upon – Avon

Holy Trinity Church

The church is impressive in its own right but world famous for being the final resting place of William Shakespeare.
There is mention of a place of worship at Stratford in 845 but the earliest parts of the current building are the transepts, crossing and tower which date from 1210. The arcades of the nave and the north and south aisles were built in the early fourteenth century. Rebuilding between 1480 and 1520 saw the north porch, chancel, west end of the nave and the clerestories take the form we see today. The church then saw much of its elaborate decoration removed during the Reformation followed by alteration and consolidation during the Victorian era.



The view down the nave towards the ‘weeping ‘chancel. The pillars of the nave are early C14 with the clerestories inserted in the late C15. There is a elongated angel at the apex of each pillar marking the newer construction.




The clerestories are in the perpendicular style – vertical lines clearly visible. The greenish plain glass is original to the late 15th century.



The chancel was re-built in the 1480’s – it is what is known as ‘weeping’ in other words it leans to the left away from the line of the rest of the church (The usual explanation for this is that it represents Christ’s head falling to the side as he hung on the cross – it is a not uncommon feature of medieval churches).



William Shakespeare’s grave and monument in the sanctuary at the east end of the chancel. The inscription on his grave (the so called ‘Curse’), reads

GOOD FRIEND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,
TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE.
BLESE BE YE MAN THAT SPARES THES STONES,
AND CURST BE HE Yt MOVES MY BONES.



The original medieval font in which Shakespeare was baptised, now much damaged. According to the guide, it was removed from the church in 1747 and used as a water cistern and then restored to the church in 1861.



The sedilia have a hidden secret. These are the original medieval priest’s seats on the south side of the sanctuary. The two nearest the altar have a carved Tudor rose under their canopies but the third retains the face of Christ –unusual in a church where all other faces were chiselled away during the reformation. It is thought that it may be a ‘vernicle – a representation of Christ’s face as it was miraculously transposed on the cloth which St veronica (hence its name) wiped his face as he carried his cross to Calvery.



Within the chancel are a set of 26 carved misericord (choir)seats which date from the fifteenth century. The name comes from the Latin misericordia ‘an act of mercy’ in other words a clever seat to support celebrants during long services. All manner of things, both sacred and secular are represented, from angels and mythical beasts to a man and woman fighting.




The West window.



Looking back towards the church from the North West, the tall lancet windows in the north transept stand out. This dates to 1210. The lower part of the tower is also C13 with the upper storey added 100 years later. The tall spire was added in the middle of the eighteenth century.



Obviously famous because of Shakespeare but nevertheless impressive in its own right. It has an advantage over many churches because of its setting on the banks of the Avon and, despite it being a large town church (and full of tourists), I liked it.