e-mail simon@suffolkchurches.co.uk

 

Holy Trinity, Stowupland

  In the first few decades of the 19th century, there was a great enthusiasm for building cheap, plain churches to supply the needs of the increasing population in those areas affected by the Industrial Revolution.

The extent to which industrialism had touched Suffolk by this time can be judged by the fact that of all the hundreds of churches recommended and approved by the government commission, only two of them were built in Suffolk. Both are dedicated to the Holy Trinity; one is in Ipswich, and the other one is here.

Most of the so-called Commissioners Churches were built in a style often described as 'Carpenter Gothic', on a low budget by local architects and labour. Although they did not have a uniform plan, most of them come out broadly similar, with a wide, boxy nave, a perfunctory chancel, and a simple tower, often topped by a little spire. Hundreds were built, and many are still in use. This one cost a very reasonable £1500, about £300,000 in today's money. Much of the cost was defrayed by the Marquis of Bristol.

Suffolk's most successful Carpenter's Gothic church. (Photo by Alan Thurkettle).

Dedicated by the Bishop of Norwich on August 30th 1843, Holy Trinity was actually quite late for a church of this kind; far away in Oxford, the Tractarians were beginning to change the world, with their advocacy of a Church of England returned to its Catholic roots. Coupled with the work of the Cambridge Camden Society, they would turn the Church upside down in the next twenty years, and the result would be expensive and glorious Gothic temples, carefully tailored to the needs of sacramentalism.

Looking east, into the curious, tiny chancel. Note the pulpit, with its 16th century Flemish panels. (Photo by Alan Thurkettle).

   Already at Bury St Edmunds up the road, another church paid for by the Marquis of Bristol, St John the Evangelist, was rearing its fantastic spire into the sky; the turrets cluster below it in a mixture of Early English and Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria. Even here, the architect Thomas Nelson shows the influence of burgeoning medievalist ideas; his windows have little Early English points.

The church sits on the main road in this busy suburb of Stowmarket, looking most attractive. The main material is Woolpit brick, as at Holy Trinity, Ipswich; it has mellowed rather more successfully here.

Inside, we find the 15th century font that came from Creeting All Saints, which was demolished 40 years before this church was built. It apparently spent the intervening period as a birdbath at Ringshall Rectory.

 
 

Also worthy of note is the fantastic pulpit, the panels of which Mortlock thought late 16th century Flemish. The reliefs show incidents in the life of Christ. I wonder where they came from.

Many of the seats are 20th century, in Monro Cautley's functional style. More exciting is the modern altar, and the parish hall to the east of the church.

Early Victorian Early English, in Woolpit brick. (Photo by Alan Thurkettle).

Holy Trinity, Stowupland, is located on the A1120 Stowmarket to Yoxford road. Either leave central Stowmarket past the railway station, or if coming from the A14 follow signs for the A1120. It was open.

There is a superb Stowmarket website created by Neil Langridge.

Please note that the photographs on this entry are by Alan Thurkettle, and retain his copyright.