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Holy Trinity Church, Skipton

This ancient church has been here at the top of the High Street for centuries, welcoming local people as well as folk from all over the world. It is a place where many have spent much time looking, wondering, soaking up its atmosphere, worshipping, being still and quiet. It is the home of a large and vibrant Christian family where many, each in their own way, have found God.

If you are in ever Skipton, come and see us - We hope you enjoy your visit to our church - and find something special here too.

A Brief History

The first church was built in the early 1100's, possibly made of wood. It was near where the tower now stands. Another church was built about 1300 with help from the monks at Bolton Priory. It was extended further eastwards towards the end of the 1400's, probably helped by a gift from Richard III.

The tower was damaged during the Civil War, but it was restored in the 1650's (along with some of the windows too) by Lady Anne Clifford from the castle next door. The tower suffered again in 1853 - this time from lightning. It and the roof were repaired soon afterwards.

At about the same time gas lighting was fitted in the church: this made the church warmer and that caused an unbearable smell from the burial vaults (!) so 30 centimetres of concrete had to be put on the floor.

There used to be galleries with seats to fit everyone in, and the pews used to be box pews, but the galleries came down in 1909 and the pews were replaced by the present oak ones with their little doors.

Lightning never strikes twice they say... well it did at Holy Trinity! In 1925 it caused a fire which completely destroyed the organ.

Recent work has included the development of the Lady Chapel and the extension of the Vestry Rooms (our church hall) in 1979; very recently, the Prayer Corner has been established in the north-east corner of the church for personal, quiet prayer.

Points of special interest to you

1 The Font
For 700 years, the beginning of a Christian's journey and the beginning of your journey today.

2 The Green Man
Amongst the faces on the pillars and roof bosses, you'll find a pagan symbol in our Christian building!

3 The A.P. window
Look to the right to see Lady Anne Clifford's devotion to Holy Trinity during the period of the Civil War.

4 The Screen
This beautiful oak screen is over 450 years old. When it was new it was probably painted.

5 The Sedillia
Three seats in the wall. Here sat the priests in mediaeval times. It was probably once near the main altax.

6 The Lady Chapel
Here you see the magnificent tomb of George Clifford - a reminder of Holy Trinity's links with Skipton Castle. The aumbry light in the corner reminds us of the presence of Christ in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

7 The High Altar
A reminder of the table of the Last Supper. The colour of the frontal changes with the Church's seasons.

8 The Dole Board
This lists gifts for the community. This is still part of our mission today.

9 The Prayer Corner
A place where you can pray quietly and be with God in peace.

10 The Anchorite's Cell
Someone probably lived here alone in mediaeval times, right next to the church and spent their life in prayer.

11 Honeypot and the Refectory (on Fridays and Saturdays)
To feed the body after refreshment of the spirit!

You will find our History of the Parish Church (price £1) a valuable souvenir of your visit.

Services here at Holy Trinity

We have a full range of services in our church and you will be very welcome at any of these. This is the usual pattern:

Sundays
8.00am. An Early Eucharist
9.45am Parish Eucharist
6.30pm Evensong

Weekdays
9.00am Morning Prayer (in the Prayer Corner)
4.00pm Evening Prayer (in the Prayer Corner)

On Wednesday
10.45am Holy Communion (Prayer Book)

Honeypot and the Refectory

Honeypot (Fridays, 10am-2pm) and the Refectory (Saturdays, 10am - 4pm offer refreshments and light home-made meals in the Vestry Rooms: do drop in and try our fare!

Before you leave...

We ask you please to pray, for us and our ministry here and to make a donation - not only to
maintain this church and the work here, but also throughout the diocese of Bradford and indeed world-wide.
We invite each person to make a gift of £1

Adrian Botwright, The Rectory, Rectory Lane, Skipton.
Tel 01756 793622

Would you like to go a little further?

Belief can be hard these days, especialIv if we are to be Honest with ourselves and with God.

We do invite you to spend some time during your visit to be still and quiet (the Prayer Corner may be just the place for you).

Remember that prayer is not only talking to God: it is every bit as much about listening to God ...

Don't try to find God. Let him find you...

God knows you even better than you know yourself

In Christ God has experienced all the hard bits of life - rejection, hatred, fear, suffering and death....

Only because of that can he say
"I am the resurrection and
I am the Life"

Religious belief is not about swallowing a whole set of doctrines and dogmas:

it is about feeling the love of God
it is knowing that each of us matters to him - that we are accepted and loved
it is knowing that, through Christ, we are nothing less than sons and daughters of God.

That lets us be our real selves, the people we really are. And that is quite amazing, isn't it?

website: http://www.bradford.anglican.org/skipton-ht/

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