Holy Trinity>

The Most Holy Trinity Church is under the care of Fr. Graeme Rowlands and is associated with Holy Trinity and Saint Silas CE Primary School. This a voluntary aided Church of England day school for junior and infant boys and girls.

The church is extremely well supported by a large number of local families who regularly attend the Parish Mass on Sundays at 9.30am. The Sunday School and Creche are equally well attended. The church is frequently used by the attached Primary School for weekly school Masses.

As with many churches the fabric of the church is constantly in need of repair and there are a number of current building projects in hand to improve the facilities of the church. Despite this the interior is kept in a very cared for condition.

The Most Holy Trinity
Situated in Clarence Way, Kentish Town, London NW1
The Most Holy Trinity Situated in Clarence Way, Kentish Town, London NW1
The design for this church, which was exhibited in the Royal Academy, was by the architects Thomas Henry Wyatt (1820 - 1877) & David Brandon (1813 - 1897). It was built during 1849-50 of Kentish ragstone in a fourteenth century style and had a west tower with spire. The church was built chiefly due to the efforts of the Reverend David Laing, who gave generously towards its construction. The spire was destroyed during World War II. It is the only church by Wyatt and Brandon in London.
Drawing of original church with spire
Drawing of original church with spire
Drawing of interior showing chancel
Drawing of interior showing chancel
Church of the Holy Trinity, Hartland Road, Haverstock Hill

Report from “The Illustrated London News” – October 19, 1850

This Church, situated in the parish of St Pancras, was consecrated on Tuesday last by the Lord Bishop of London, in the presence of a very large assemblage of people. It is situated in the parish of St Pancras, and is the third of the twenty district churches which its present esteemed rector, the Rev. Mr. Dale, hopes to see erected in his present overgrown parish. This church is constructed to accommodate 1426 persons, of which 856 will be in free and unappropriated seats. The district assigned to it has a population of 10,000 persons (most of whom are poor). The claims of this vast number of persons urged on the earliest possible provision of church and school accommodation. The Vicar (the Rev. David Laing), and a local committee, succeeded in securing contiguous sites, both for the Church and School, in the very centre of the district. To save time (each day still seeing souls passing into eternity), a contract was at once taken for the School building, to be to be immediately raised in shell, and used temporarily as a chapel for six hundred persons, whilst the funds were raised for the permanent Church. This was done; the Chapel was speedily filled, and has ever since been used as a temporary church. And now the end seems to be in view; a house of prayer is now consecrated, and ready to receive nearly 1500 souls. The means of sound teaching are prepared for 800 children; and Visiting, Provident, and Maternity Societies have been establish; but the Vicar and committee, in order to accomplish these objects, have been obliged to incur a debt, which, after the payment of the grants and subscriptions promised will not be less than £4,000, and for which they have made themselves personally responsible. It is much to be hoped that their fellow Christians will not let them suffer for their zeal.

The Church is dedicated to the “Holy Trinity” and is built with Swanage stone and Bath stone dressings. It is of “middle pointed” character, and consists of a western tower, nave, north and south aisles, chancel, and north porch. The extreme length within the walls is 124 feet, the breadth 66 feet, and the height, to the top of the spire, 160 feet. The Church is of admirable character in design, and the interior is particularly effective. The open roof is stained to imitate oak, as are the seats, the galleries, &c. These latter are set back from the pillars separating the nave from the aisles, and the general appearance of the nave is thus not interfered with. The chancel, as may be seen by our Illustration, is of charming and novel design, the numerous aches producing, to use an artistic phrase, a pleasing and elegant play of lines. From the great deficiency of funds the fittings are of the simplest character, the pulpit being the one actually used in the school, or temporary church. It is to be hoped, however, that the liberality of individuals well soon enable the committee to replace them by others more suited to the size and importance of the Church. As a commencement, Mr. Gibbs, of Harmood Place, has presented the centre compartment of the five light east window of painted glass, of rich and appropriate design and in excellent taste. The architects have given the font.

The organ, placed on the south side of the chancel, is of very sweet and powerful tone. This is a Grade II organ in recognition of it being an interesting instrument containing substantial material by Messrs. Bevington and Sons, of Greek Street, Soho.

Messrs Wyatt and Brandon are the architects of this fine church; and Messrs. T. and W. Piper, the builders. The total outlay, including site and enclosures, will be upwards of £10,000.
The design was originally criticised because of the tiny aisles on either side of the chancel. It had side and west galleries. The side galleries were taken down in 1902. After World War II the west gallery was removed and the north aisle converted into a hall.

In 1951 the east window was installed by Goddard and Gibbs. It has five slender lancets, the central three of which depict the crucifixion showing the two criminals who were crucified with Christ. Each side lancet show three scenes from the life of Jesus.
The left lancet depicts 'The Annunciation', 'The Nativity' and 'Jesus' Baptism by John'.
The right lancet depicts 'The Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday', 'The Last Supper' and 'The Agony in the Garden'.
Above the central lancet is a cinquefoil showing 'Christ the King'.
The window was designed by Arthur Edward Buss (born 19 June 1905 - died 1 December 1999). He was trained by William Aikman and studied at Camberwell School of Art 1917-18. He then worked with Aikman at 7 Camden Square, London NW1 from 1918-37. In 1937 he worked alone. From 1946-69 he worked in Kingsland Road, Shoreditch with the firm Goddard & Gibbs.
East window by Goddard & Gibbs
Designed by Arthur Edward Buss
East window by Goddard & Gibbs Designed by Arthur Edward Buss
Detail of east window
Detail of east window
Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
Madonna & Child
Madonna & Child
S. Joseph & Jesus
S. Joseph & Jesus
Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary
S. Agnes
S. Agnes

Past Vicars of Holy Trinity
1847 - 1858 David Laing (became rector of St Olave's by the Tower, 1858)
1858 - 1860 Edward Spooner
1860 - 1871 Charles Lee
Edited and wrote a Preface to the story of a fugitive slave, Francis Fedric, published in 1863
1871 - 1901 Edward Lewis Cutts
1901 - 1914 Bejamin Saunders Lloyd
1915 - 1918 Reginald Crosswell Evill
1918 - 1929 Mark Edwin Johnson
1930 - 1935 Thorold Kenneth Lowdell
1935 - 1942 Stephen Cuthbert Thompson
1942 - 1947 John Wilfred Daines
1948 - 1953 Frank Hasell Syme
1953 - 1956 George Alban Dunbar
1956 - 1963 Reginald Hurwood Thomas
1963 - 1993 Ian Michael Scott

Other Churches by Wyatt & Brandon
Wyatt & Brandon were fairly prolific church builders, but only built one church in London. However one of their more important churches is St George the Martyr, St George's Way, Wolverton, Bucks which is now a listed grade II* building. It is an Anglican church of 1843 in the early English style. It has 1895 and 1902 extensions by J Oldrid Scott. 20th century alterations which include the large round West Window of 1954. It is claimed to be the first church ever built by a railway company.
S. John, Tixall, Staffordshire
The present church was built in 1848 by the Hon. John Chetwynd Talbot, 3rd son of Charles Chetwynd, 2nd Earl Talbot of Ingestre, as an act of piety and to be his mausoleum, and was consecrated on Whit-Tuesday 1849. The architects were T.H.Wyatt and David Brandon of London, and "the Church has a little altered Victorian Interior in the Early English style". It is built of local keuper sandstone with a roof of Staffordshire blue tiles.
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