The church with the open doors
Holy Trinity’s stained glass windows are among its most distinguished features. Of high artistic quality, they range from the 1860s to the 1950s and illustrate the span of Victorian and modern styles.
Most of the stained glass was given by individual benefactors to replace the original plain glass in a window, often in memory of a loved one. There was no overall plan, and new additions reflected the favoured style of the time. Because of the many changes made to Holy Trinity’s building through the 19th century, it is hard to trace the exact sequence of additions and losses, but it is clear that the windows were very important in the life of the church.
East window designed by Harry Warren Wilson
Stained glass windows were a traditional feature of medieval churches, and conveyed Christian teaching and Bible stories to an illiterate population. Medieval designs were revived in Victorian times but approaches that reflected the painting styles of the time were followed too. In the 20th century, a severer, more symbolic type of art has predominated.
All these styles are well represented at Holy Trinity. A full description of the evolution of stained glass through the centuries and a description of Holy Trinity’s windows is given here.