Church Heritage Record 624349

5-bay nave with south porch and 2-bay south aisle, north choir vestry and vestry. Apsidal chancel with south organ chamber. West bell turret. Boiler house beneath vestries.

[Approximate] Nave 23m (75ft) x 9m (30ft), chancel 8m (26ft) x 5m (16ft)

Early settlement of the area is suggested by the find of a Neolithic stone hammer and possible Roman clay jug north-east of the site. Middleton’s growth came with the arrival of cotton manufacture during the later part of the 17th century, originally a cottage industry. The first cotton mill opened c.1800 and there was silk-weaving from c.1780. The growth of the industry resulted in a population increase, the population of Middleton in 1851 was 8717.

Near to the church was Parkfield House, a Georgian and Victorian country house, since demolished except for the walls. A workhouse previously stood to the south/south-east.

Holy Trinity was built as a sister church to the Parish church of St Leonard and was consecrated in 1862. The site was offered by Sir S M Peto, Bart and Mr Betts and was intended to accommodate 500 worshippers at a cost no greater than £2000. It was designed by George Shaw from Uppermill, Lancashire, who was most well known for St Chad’s, Saddleworth, east of Oldham. 

In 1899 the south transept/aisle was added, and an organ was moved from the north side of the chancel (where the clergy vestry is now) to the south of the chancel. A new bell was also fitted.  A brass plaque near the south door records the conversion of lights to electricity in 1912 in celebration of the Jubilee. Old photos of the interior show the old light shades, an ornate wrought-iron chancel screen (removed in the 1970s), chairs arranged in the south transept, and swirling stencilling around the chancel arch. The roof was reslated in 1991.

The archaeological potential of the site is low. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot.

Holy Trinity is a neat, well-presented, church building set on a slope in a pleasant residential area. The raised ground gives the building some prominence, with views on approach from south and west.

A tall west bell turret rises above a four-light window and draws focus to the west end. The nave has two-light windows to north and south elevations, some are protected by means of wire mesh or fibreglass covers. The pitched roof of the nave is met by a gabled south porch. The porch is raised by 2 steps, has a stone floor, stone benches and single lights to east and west. To its east projects a two-bay double gabled transept. The chancel roof is lower than the nave. An apsidal east end is difficult to appreciate as it does not form an element within local views, and is hidden by vegetation. The vestry projects to the north side, and has two doors into the church. Stone cross finials accent all of the gables. Corner buttresses clasp each angle.

The aisleless nave is entered through an oak door from the porch in the south-west corner. The area to the west has been cleared of pews and wooden chairs, originally from the south transept, have been arranged. The area rises across two steps, and immediately to the west of the porch door is the font, set with encaustic floor tiles around it. The remaining area is carpeted. In the apex of the west wall, stone corbels can be seen which provide support to the exterior west bell turret. An altar, relocated from the south transept, is positioned to the north side, installed in memory of James Townsend, d.1956.

The interior walls are plastered and painted with exposed stone surrounds. Simple arch-braced timber roof trusses rest on stone corbels. Heating pipes run around the base of the walls. Original brass light-fittings remain though the original glass shades (seen in historic photograph) have been replaced with energy saving light-bulbs. There are two modern light fittings against the west wall. The nave floor is formed of wood blocks (some iron grates), with fixed stained soft-wood pews on level boarded floors to either side. They have umbrella stands to each end and curved arms form seat spaces along the span of each bench.

In the south-east corner is a two-bay pointed arcade with octagonal central pier forming the south transept. The area is arranged with tables and has a servery along the west wall. The organ chamber forms the east wall.

The vestry is positioned in the north-east corner of the nave and accessed beneath a pointed stone arch. It is raised by two steps. There is a single light of stained glass in the north wall, relocated from the chancel. The clergy vestry is through to the east and has a sink.

The chancel is raised by two stone steps, beneath a pointed stone chancel arch, which rises between a low chancel wall with stone top and alabaster carved panels. Harsh strip lights are fixed to the chancel side of the chancel arch. The aisle is paved with encaustic tiles, overlaid with carpet. Choir stalls are positioned on wood platforms to north and south. A blank stone arch is set in the north wall. The organ is positioned beyond an arch to the south side. Overhead the ceiling is decorated with painted and gilded ribs. The sanctuary, which has a polygonal end, rises by a step. With the altar raised upon another two.