Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity is nearly 175 years old, and as churches go, quite a modern building. It replaced St Giles in Old Blendworth, and is the successor to at least two former buildings.
Holy Trinity serves the hamlet of Blendworth and the eastern side of Horndean which is bordered by the A3.
Our Ministry and Mission in and for the Community
Sowing Seeds
Sowing Seeds is worship aimed at babies and children up to the age of seven. It is specifically aimed to get them as involved as possible. It can be used in a ‘traditional’ Sunday school way with children worshipping separately to adults but it can be incorporated into our worship. At BCI Churches we use the latter approach – at Blendworth, on the first Sunday of every month, the children are included using their confession and peace and then withdraw separately to listen to the story and for their prayer time. At Chalton, on the fourth Sunday of the month, Sowing Seeds is the worship and everyone joins in with the children’s worship – with the movement, songs and stories. At Blendworth, the children make their creative responses during the Eucharist and show everyone afterwards. Families are welcome to join us for these services.
Horndean Junior School
We have links with our local Church of England Junior School in Horndean taking part in Collective Worship and other activities about faith.
Horndean Parish Council
We participate and assist Horndean Parish Council with Remembrance Sunday and the Annual Carols in the village square.
History
The present church was designed by WG & E Habershon with flint walls, steeply pitched roofs and a broached spire above the tower. The foundation stone was laid in 1851, and the consecration of the church was in 1852. The original choir vestry was built in 1904 by public subscription, and was extended in 1979 with the addition of the flat roof vestry. Although past buildings may be gone, records dating from 1303 are still held. Among them is a list of Rectors on the south aisle beginning with Adam de Boudone. The registers date from 1586.
The Reredos with its carved canopy of alabaster enclosing three mosaic panels depicting St Andrew’s Cross in the centre, on the left St Peter, and on the right St Paul. The pulpit and font are also made of alabaster. Various stained-glass windows including a substantial west window depicting the ‘Walking on the Water’. This was damaged by a land mine in the Second World War and was repaired by the artist Vanessa Cutler in 2003.
The tower contains a bell cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1898, and contains a clock with chimes as a memorial to those who fell in the 1914-18 war, and as a thanksgiving to God for those who returned. This is maintained by Horndean Parish Council.
A Bas relief of St Thomas given by the former Rector Reverend Ewen Pinsent and his family in memory of their son, Thomas who died of leukaemia, can be found in the organ loft. Thomas’ younger brother, Matthew, became the famous international Olympic rower.
Repair and Conservation
The repairs needed to the roof of Holy Trinity comes from the findings of the most recent Quinquennial Inspection Report and the recommendations of the Church Architect. Further investigative work has resulted in the discovery of ‘nail sickness’ necessitating the removal and preservation and reapplication of original tiles in addition to new ones if required. Replacement of roofing supports and insulating it will also be part of the project. We have set up a fundraising page to buy a tile.
We hope disruption will be minimal and directly related to the preservation of the structure of this historic building and its use – as a church, as a community building and for visitors to enjoy.
How to find Holy Trinity
Blendworth Lane, Horndean. PO8 0AB
Please note that, owing to its location, there is no postal service to the church. Postal correspondence should be addressed to the BCI Benefice Office, Blendworth Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0AA
