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Holy Trinity, Hoxton
Holy Trinity with St Mary, Hoxton
The vicarage and church's east end, from Bletchley Street N1.
The church's west end, from Alford Place N1.
Interior view looking east.
Holy Trinity, Hoxton is located in Greater London
Holy Trinity, Hoxton
Holy Trinity, Hoxton
51°31′50.12″N 0°5′27.96″W / 51.5305889°N 0.0911000°W / 51.5305889; -0.0911000
LocationHoxton
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
TraditionAnglo-Catholic
WebsiteOfficial website
History
Founded1848
Architecture
Architect(s)William Railton
Style13th-century English Gothic
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseDiocese of London
Episcopal areaFulham
ArchdeaconryHackney
DeaneryHackney
Clergy
Bishop(s)The Bishop of Fulham
Priest(s)Fr Aidan Bartlett SSC (Priest in Charge)
Laity
Organist(s)Samuel S. Marde Mehdiabad

Holy Trinity, Hoxton is an Anglican church in the Hoxton district of the London Borough of Hackney.[1] The church is notable not only for its distinctive tower and broach spire but also for its long adherence to 'High Church' doctrines and liturgical practices. In 1941 Holy Trinity merged with the parish of St Mary, Britannia Walk N1 after the latter was made unuseable by WW2 aerial bombing.

The church building

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High Altar 2012
High Altar 1906

The Grade-II listed building was completed in 1848 to the design of William Railton (1800–77), the designer of Nelson's Column. Railton's design for Holy Trinity is inspired by 13th-century English examples  and is constructed with Kentish Ragstone. The interior has tall, thin arcades on octagonal piers and whitened walls.[2]

Baptistry

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Baptistry 2012

In 1896 the lowest portion of the tower was converted to a baptistry opening into the south-west corner of the church, to the design of Spencer W Grant (1879–1914).[2]

Confessional 2012

The chancel

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Following WW2 aerial bombing in January 1941 that damaged the building the chancel area was reordered in 1942 under the supervision of Martin Travers (1886–1948), as follows:[2]

  • the high altar was remade using  stones from six local churches  bomber out during 1940–1.
  • the east-end lancet windows were filled in and covered by a large framed panel above the altar containing a gilded rood by Rev. William E.A. Lockett (1916–2000). The roundel above depicts the Holy Spirit as a dove and is by Martin Travers as too a gilded roundel above the chancel arch.
  •   a new confessional with tall Corinthian pilasters was provided, possibly from old woodwork.
  • the organ on the south side of the chancel was put beyond repair by the bombing and was cleared away.
  • a west gallery was installed, adorned with hatchments, ready for a replacement pipe-organ.
Pulpit 2012
Parish profile in 1875)

The church furnishings

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From St Mary Hoxton

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At the time Holy Trinity suffered aerial-bomb damage, and by the same air-raid, the church of St Mary, Britannia Walk, Hoxton, was made entirely derelict. This church had inherited a number of historic items from the City church of St Mary Somerset Street (demolished 1871), specifically:[3][4]

  • a pulpit made in 1695 by joiner Samuel Port (n.d.) with carvings of flowers and heads of cherubs executed by Jonathan Maine (active 1680–1709).
  • communion plate (early nineteenth century)
  • a font and font cover
  • a bell

A description of the church in 1947 adds:

There are two Holy Water Stoups, and there are shrines dedicated to the "Sacred Heart," "St. George," and "St. Joseph." Above a side altar there is an image of the Virgin and Child, the principal figure of the Virgin being adorned with an elaborate blue robe. At the back of the Church there is a Pieta and an altar for the offering of Requiem Masses for departed souls.[5]

The pipe organ

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Organ gallery 2024

The current pipe organ of 1952 is by the firm of John Compton and is located on a west gallery. The previous organ by Bishop & Starr was located in the south chancel and removed following WW2 bomb damage.[6]

The school building

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Former Holy Trinity School
Drinking fountain at former Holy Trinity School

Adjacent to the church to the north-east is the former parish school, a building now used as the parish halls. It was opened in 1864 at a cost of £1,687 (worth £180,117.95 in August 2024[7]) and was designed to accommodate "between 600 and 700 children; boys, girls, and infants". One apparently noteworthy provision was a drinking-fountain that was accessible to the public as well as the children, "and in that crowded neighbourhood it is hoped will prove a great boon." The architect  was Arthur Ashpitel (1807–69) and the builder Messrs. Carter of Westminster.[8] The Dedication Stone reads:

To the Glory of God and for the benefit of the poor of all religious {illegible}, these schools, built mainly by the employers of London in the neighbourhood upon ground given by the incumbent, The Rev. T. Boys, were opened by the Bishop of London on the 25th day of May MDCCCLXIV (1864).[9]

The English Missal

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Rev Henry Kenrick, the Vicar from 1905–37 was the progenitor of the influential and widely adopted Missale Anglicanum : English Missal, which he developed for use at Holy Trinity, Hoxton. It was first published in 1912 (London : W. Knott) and went through several editions in the following years.[10]

List of clergy

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  • 2024-present: Aidan Bartlett. Priest-in-charge.[11]
  • 2022–24: Christopher Trundle. Priest-in-charge.[11]
    • 2022–24: Aidan Bartlett. Curate.[11]
  • 2011–21: Andrew Newcombe: Vicar.[11]
  • 2002–09: Iain Young. Vicar.[11]
  • 1997–2002: Iain Young: Priest-in-charge.[11]
  • 1982–96: Stuart Wilson. Vicar.[11]
    • 1992–93: Steven McKenna. Curate.[11]
    • 1986–92: Roger Reader. Curate.[11]
  • 1969–82: Brian Masters. Vicar.[11]
  • 1954-68: Kenneth Loveless. Vicar.[11]
    • 1967–69: Alan Page. Curate.Vicar.[11]
    • 1964–67: Kenneth Leech: Curate.[11]
    • 1963–67: Brian Boucher. Curate.[11]
    • 1956–64: Michael Stephenson. Curate.[11]
    • 1955–58: George Silver. Curate.[11]
  • 1937–1953: Cecil Vincent. Vicar.[12][13]
  • 1905–37: Henry Kenrick. Vicar.[14]
  • 1892–1905: Jacob Cartmell-Robinson. Vicar.[19][20]
  • : ? Vicar ...
  • 1880–90: W Sotheby. Vicar.[21][22]
    • 1885-?: H. Sidney Brown. Curate.[23]
    • 1884-85: Frederick Ford. Curate.[24]
  • : ? Vicar ...
  • 1863–68: Thomas Fowle. Vicar.[26]
  • 1848–62: Thomas Boys: Vicar.[27]

List of organists

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  • in 2024: Samuel S. Marde Mehdiabad
  • : ?
  • in 1911: Mr Mills.[28]
  • : ?
  • in 1897: Henry Bagg.[29]
  • in 1895: Charles Lee.[30]
  • 1893–95: Frederick Russell (BA. BMus).[31]
  • : ?
  • 1888: Organist and choirmaster post advertised, salary £35.[32] the equivalent in August 2024 is £3,822.79.[7]
  • :?
  • : in 1875: Mr Young.[33]
  • : ?

External reference and further reading

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Biographical articles

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References

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  1. ^ 'Holy Trinity Hoxton'. The Church of England: A Church Near You. Parish information. Online resource, accessed 22 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Bridget Cherry and Nicholas Pevsner (2002) 'Holy Trinity Hoxton' in The Buildings of England. London 4, North. (New Haven & London : Yale University Press). 513.
  3. ^ Mark Kirby (2018) Furnishing Sir Christopher Wren's churches: Anglican identity in late-seventeenth century London. PhD thesis, University of York. Online resource, accessed 24 September 2024.
  4. ^ R. H. Harrison (1960) 'The dispersion of furniture and fittings formerly belonging to the churches in the City of London'. Transaction of the Ancient Monuments Society. New series: vol.8. 53–74. Online resource, accessed 24 September 2024.
  5. ^ 'Centenary of Holy Trinity, Hoxton'. The Churchman’s Magazine and Wickliffe Preachers’ Messenger; London (Apr 1947): 42. Online resource, accessed 29 September 2025.
  6. ^ 'Hoxton, Holy Trinity'. The National Pipe Organ Register. Online resource accessed 26 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b Bank of England Inflation Calculator. Online resource, accessed 4 October 2024.
  8. ^ 'New school, Holy Trinity, Hoxton". The Builder. v.21 (26 December 1863). 519. Online resource, accessed 24 September 2024.
  9. ^ 'Holy Trinity School, Hoxton'. London Remembers. Online resource accessed 24 September 2024.
  10. ^ Pauline M. Hine (1970) The Anglican Eucharist 1900-1967: an historical survey of the theological and liturgical developments during this period with particular reference to the catholic and evangelical wings of the Church of England. PhD. Durham University (UK). 82. Online resource, accessed 29 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Crockford's Clerical Directory. Onllne resource, accessed 24 September 2024.
  12. ^ The Times London, England. Monday, Mar. 15, 1937. Issue 47633. 17.
  13. ^ The Times London, England. Monday, Oct. 12, 1953. Issue 52750. 10.
  14. ^ Christine Hickson and Michael Blain (2022) A Directory of members of the First Anglo Catholic Priests Convention Oxford ..., July 1921. 2nd edition.([anglicanhistory.org Project Canterbury]). Online resource, accessed 24 September 2024.
  15. ^ The Times London, England. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1929. Issue 45113. 7.
  16. ^ The Times London, England. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1924 Issue 43800. 17.
  17. ^ The Times London, England. Thursday, Sept. 5, 1918. Issue 41887. 3.
  18. ^ Stanley Sowton (1950). Blind Eagle: Father Jackson of Burma. Series: Eagle Books No. 11. (London: Edinburgh House Press). Online resource, accessed 25 September 2024.
  19. ^ The Times London, England. Monday, Aug. 1, 1892. Issue 33705. 5.
  20. ^ The Times London, England. Tuesday, June 6, 1905. Issue 37726. 10.
  21. ^ The Times London, England. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1880. Issue 29986. 9.
  22. ^ The Times London, England. Thursday, Nov. 13, 1890. Issue 33168. 10.
  23. ^ The Times London, England. Saturday, Apr. 25, 1885. Issue 31430. 6.
  24. ^ The Times London, England. Monday, June 23, 1884. Issue 31167. 12.
  25. ^ Edgar Cardew Marchant (1897). 'Shilleto, Richard'. Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. (London: Smith, Elder & Co.). 250.
  26. ^ Sidney Lee (1912). 'Fowle, Thomas Welbank'. Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). Vol. 2 (London: Smith, Elder & Co.).
  27. ^ Ronald Bayne (1886). 'Boys, Thomas'. Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 06. (London: Smith, Elder & Co.).
  28. ^ 'A church riot at Hoxton'. Watchman (Sydney, NSW) Thu 8 Jun 1911.5. Online resource, accessed 1 October 2024.
  29. ^ Musical Standard; London Vol. 8, Iss. 194, (Sep 18, 1897): 190.
  30. ^ 'Organ News'. Musical opinion and music trade review; London Vol. 18, Iss. 216, (Sep 1895): 766. Online resource, accessed 29 September 2024.
  31. ^ Frederick Thornsby (1912) Dictionary of organs and organists. London: G.A. Mate. 407. Online resource, accessed 29 September 2024.
  32. ^ The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 30, No. 551 (Jan. 1, 1889), 6. Online resource, accessed 3 October 2024;
  33. ^ Rev Charles MackesonA Guide to the churches of London and its suburbs (London: Metzler, 1875). 116.
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