Hoylake Holy Trinity
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 218 893
In spite of its small size and straightforward plan, this church makes a strong impression because of its idiosyncratic detail.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisleless nave with west boll-cote and south porch; chancel with vestry to the north.
Description of Archaeology and History
By Sir James Picton of Liverpool, 1830.
Exterior Description
In spite of its small size and straightforward plan, this church makes a strong impression because of its idiosyncratic detail. The plain wall surfaces, faced with well-cut ashlar masonry, give added effect to the details of the windows and the south door. These are derived from the Norman style, but are not easily mistaken for the real thing, for here is no archaeological reconstruction. Each of the seven lateral nave windows (four in the north wall and three in the south) and the doorway of the south porch has a round-headed arch enriched with a bold interpretation of dog-tooth ornament. The nave walls are divided horizontally by simple stringcourses into three virtually equal parts. The lower stringcourse forms the sill for the windows where it runs beneath them, while the upper forms the abacus of the capitals of the detached columns which stand each side of the windows. The window of the west end is said to be derived from one in the Norman church of Castle Rising in Norfolk, and is indeed similar in outline, being flanked by the same sort of interlacing arcading. In fact, it is the whole facade, not just the window which has Castle Rising as its source, and it is interesting to note that Hoylake shows the upper part of Castle Rising to have been altered from the indentation following the line of the gable to a pair of blind arches each side of the west window.
Along the side walls of the church just below the eaves runs an unornamented corbel-table supported on corbels carved as head, obviously inspired by Norman work in a similar position as at Kilpeck in Herefordshire.
The chancel is of three bays and in an attempt to emulate a sequence of building such as might be seen in a mediaeval church the architect has employed a form of the Early English style, although again it is an individual interpretation. The bays are divided by slender buttresses with unusually steeply sloping shoulders. The windows in the south wall are small pointed lancets, set somewhat high in the wall in order to avoid interfering with the internal arrangements of the smallish chancel. The central one is over a door with a very pointed head and deeply recessed mouldings, and the most westerly window here extends lower than the others, and is thus a more normal lancet shape. A stringcourse runs along this wall interrupted by each buttress, at the level of the springing of the window arches, each of which it follows round. The east window is a set of three lancet lights with columns and moulding round the exterior.
On the north side of the chancel is the low vestry of a very simple neo-Norman style with six unadorned round-headed windows and a double window at the the east end. The vestry is a later addition and is entered by two doors from the outside of the church and one from the north-east corner of the nave. The chancel and nave roofs are slated, some of the slates being plain and others of the fish-scale type being employed for variation.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The north window in the nave is by Jones and Willis.
Stained Glass
Windows by Powell of which the largest is the east window with a representation of the Crucifixion in the centre light and other scenes from the life of Christ in the side lights and smaller panels below. There are angels in the head of the window.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church exhibits much the same traits as the exterior in that it, too, is very simple, with plain white-washed walls, and here also it is the detail of the chancel arch which is striking. As with the arches outside, it is decorated with over-large carved chevrons, although it looks rather like the chancel arch under the tower at Castle Rising. It is supported on two half-round attached columns with cushion capitals. The form of the arch is echoed in a distant way in the timbers of the roof which is a cross between the wagon type and the kingpost type, consisting of large semi-circular crossbeams spanning the nave themselves supported on small attached columns standing on little stone brackets which are carved with life-size heads of great character. These arched beams support a crossbeam and a kingpost which supports in turn the ridge beam of the roof. The chancel roof is similar in construction, though less in span. The west entrance to the church has been closed and plastered over, and at the west end is a gallery of simrle construction supported on two plain wooden columns.
Fixtures and fittings
Sedilia
Built into the south wall of the chancel is a row of three stone sedilia.
Rail
1902
The handsome set of alter rails date from 1902. They are wooden with square panels filled with open tracery designs.
Font (object)
The font is a massive piece of neo-Norman inspiration.
Pulpit
The pulpit is a decorative piece, basically square with canted corners and is enriched with traceried areas at the top of each panel, on the front of the base, on the hand-rail of the steps and even on the reading desk.
Lectern
The lectern is a brass pedestal with double revolving book-rest.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 218 893
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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