Holy Trinity

So St. Paul's, on the corner of Chapel Row and Monmouth Place, became our present church; the old Holy Trinity parish was extended to include land round the building.

On the eagerly awaited day of the 5th September 1952, Fr. Sheen was instituted by Bishop Bradfield of Bath and Wells and inducted by the Archdeacon of Bath as Rector of the newly-constituted parish. The Bishop formally declared us to be the Parish of the Most Holy Trinity.

What of the Church? It is a building, yet it is much more. We have already mentioned Pevsner's poor opinion of the first Holy Trinity. But in comparison with his description of the present building that view is almost flattering. Here is what he says: "Geometrical style with a terrible asymmetrical façade. The interior barn-like..." Yet some buildings so nearly reach perfection that they can be cold, almost inhuman. Not Holy Trinity: the extraordinary faade may appeal to one's sense of humour, or appreciation of the grotesque, as in Mediaeval churches. But now come in: the appeal is on a deeper level. The crucified Christ hangs on the Rood, dominating the nave; a light burns always for the Reserved Sacrament; and it is difficult not to go to the statue of the Virgin Mary and light a candle. This is a Church with atmosphere, both homely and other-worldly...numinous; as the Psalmist said, "O Lord I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory abides".

Yes, a Church is much more than a building, but a building it is, and Holy Trinity was found to be in a poor state of repair. The turret, or pinnacle, which was above the apse, was unsafe. It was taken down in 1953. This and other work placed a real financial burden on the congregation. Yet Holy Trinity was attracting people wishing for Catholic worship, both residents of Bath and visitors. And members of the congregation who had lapsed during the "Wilderness Years" began to return.

In the same year war damage compensation was received. A faculty was obtained to create a Chapel in the north aisle, together with a hall and a room for Sunday School and youth groups. Soon Scouts, Guides, and Brownies were meeting at the church and a Young Wives' Group was started, sponsored by the Mothers' Union. This was especially for younger women who felt that the M. U. was only for older ladies! At about this time responsibility for maintaining the shrubbery facing Chapel Row was taken over by the City Council, who transformed it into a lovely garden with a grass verge.

It must be remembered that the "new" Holy Trinity was starting from scratch. Fr. Sheen wrote: "Please speak to me if you are thinking of making a gift to the Church; there is so much we need." Giving was generous. Altar Cloths for the High Altar and vestments were often made by members of the congregation, a Miss Bird working her magic on many occasions. Visitors were generous too.

On All Saints Day 1953 Archdeacon Cockbill, Rector from 1923-30, gave a splendid sermon, in which he said: "I could not visit Bath without offering to preach at the new Holy Trinity."

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was dedicated on Passion Sunday 1954, when an Altar Cloth, given by the Brownies as their Coronation gift, was used for the first time.

By December 1954 all alterations to the building had been completed. In the words of Fr. Sheen: "Holy Trinity can now begin its work in complete independence."

1955 was marked , memorably, by the putting in place of the Hanging Rood, which is such a striking feature of the church. It was designed and made by The Faith Craft Guild. The Right Revd. Douglas Henry Crick, formerly Bishop of Chester, dedicated the Rood on 21st October.

The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament was re-started by Fr. Sheen in February 1957; there had been a ward in the first Holy Trinity. We have an active ward today under the guidance of our Rector, Fr. Graham Oakes.

By May 1957 all debts had been cleared and the Church could certainly be described as "up and running". Discussions began on the possibility of funding an Assistant Priest, but it was not until April 1959 that Fr. John Fairfoot joined Holy Trinity.

The old Holy Trinity had been largely destroyed by fire, but most of the walls were left standing. The shell of the church was demolished in 1960. An article in the Diocesan News, commenting on this, made no mention of the new church. A reply was sent: "Holy Trinity still exists and is very much alive." An interesting account has come to light regarding what was probably a crime of sacrilege, and concerned the fate of the bell from the old church. It had fallen from the belfry, and remained amidst the rubble. In 1951 it was stolen, broken up, and sold to a scrap metal dealer in London, even though it bore an inscription identifying its origin. The police recovered the fragments. Fr. Sheen gave evidence at the Quarter Sessions in Bath on 6th April 1951. Three of the four defendants were found not guilty, and one was bound over for three years. The pieces were returned to Fr. Sheen, who sold them for £80, to the benefit of the then Church Restoration Fund.

June 1960 saw Holy Trinity host the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary Corpus Christi Festival, with servers coming from all over England.

Evening Masses began in September 1961 with a stern warning about the eucharistic fast: three hours' abstention from food and alcohol, and an hour from other drink - though water did not break the fast.

In 1963 there came a very distressing and uncertain time for Fr. Sheen and the people of Holy Trinity. Fr. Fairfoot left in order, as he put it, to "take up work for our Lord in another part of His vineyard". About a third of the congregation left, either for the Church of Rome, or other churches in the area. The Parochial Church Council decided that it was not possible to fund another assistant priest, and looked to retired priests to help Fr. Sheen with the daily services.

Fr. Sheen continued with his parish ministry until his death in 1972, at the age of 74. He had come to Holy Trinity in 1947, and he had ministered here for a quarter of a century. He had earned the affection and respect not only of his congregation, but of many others in the Bath area, some of whom never went to church. He had been a familiar sight travelling from the Rectory to Holy Trinity on his motor cycle. His two great interests were gardening and woodwork. For many years he conducted the annual Christmas Service on the stage of the Theatre Royal. Our connection with the Theatre has continued through the years and Fr. Graham remains their enthusiastic and supportive Chaplain. Fr. Sheen was also an author: he had had at least seventeen books published, the first of which, in 1928, was Through the Eyes of a Child. He was greatly missed; but he had served the parish well, and during the following interregnum Holy Trinity continued to attract a congregation from a wide area - those seeking a Catholic Liturgy.

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