Holy Trinity Parish Church

Cadw's description

Location

Situated in the upper part of the town to the north-east of the Grand Pavilion and recreation ground.

History

Designed by Thomas Nicholson of Hereford and built by Mr Gough of Bishops Castle. This, the new parish church (to replace that on the hill to the SE of the town) was opened in 1871 and reflects the expansion and prosperity of Llandrindod at that time. It was initially known as Christ Church until dedicated to the Holy Trinity in 1881. The first church corresponds to what is now the south nave, aisle and chancel although the latter was remodelled in 1895 along with the addition of the central nave and chancel. In 1909 the church was further enlarged by Wellings Thomas, a local architect, with the addition of the northern nave. The result is a church of irregular plan.

Exterior

The exterior is of bull-faced rubble with freestone dressings and angle buttresses with pinnacles (outer buttresses set diagonally). Slate roofs, gable parapets (finials missing) slightly advanced chancel of 1871 with 3-light Geometric windows flanked by single lancets. Linked hoodmoulds and cill band. Set back gables to left and right with 3-light Decorated windows. Later transverse gables to outer ends with lancet windows. 3- light Decorated windows to north and south faces (above grouped lancets to south). Organ chamber to south side with projecting single storey crenellated vestry and bell frame over. Aisled nave of 1871 with dog-leg roof profile (no clerestory). Transverse gabled bay to east with 2-light bar tracery window flanked by buttresses with set offs. Later style 2-light windows to left. South porch within buttressed tower base (tower and spire in Wellings Thomas' design) and with moulded pointed arch with headstops to hoodmould. Low porch to west front under 3-light Geometrical window, flanked by two occuli. Further pair of 3-light Decorated windows to north nave with gabled north porch beyond with concave moulded jambs. Another entrance (north transept) further east with 3-light Decorated ogee hoodmould and traceried spandrels. East gable end to northrern nave with further 3-light Decorated windows.

Perpendicular style openwork screen to north chancel; polygonal stone pulpit with tapered base; polygonal font at east end of south aisle with Early Gothic foliage detail.

Interior

Ashlar interior with some zig-zag tooling. 3.5 bay chancel with ornamental double hammerbeam roof with traceried panels supported on cylindrical shafts with moulded capitals, terminating in heavy corbel bases in south wall and in granite piers to north with detached shafts linked by granite annulettes. Perpendicular arch to organ chamber with traceried spandrels. Boarded and arched braced roof to northern chancel; pointed arched doorway to sacristy with hoodmould. Tall original chancel arch with attached shafts and waterholding bases. Original aisled nave with banded masonry, open trussed roof and crenellated wallplates; rich foliage capitals to cylindrical piers of Early Gothic arcades. Early C14 north arcade with round columns; twin open collar beam roofs with ornamental hammerbeam supports.

Reason for designation

Group value.