Holy Trinity Church, Stowupland
Prior to 1842 residents of Stowupland either traveled to surrounding villages, worshiped at non-conformists chapels, or went down to their parish church which was in Stowmarket.
100 years later, in 1947, this report was printed in the July edition of the ‘Stowmarket Notebook.’
Holy Trinity is ” A modern white brick church built in 1843.” The plain font came from Creeting All Saints & there is an example of Geo. IV Arms & crest cast in iron. The most interesting thing is the carved panels in the pulpit. Probably 17th century obviously of foreign origin, they represent early scenes in the life of our Lord, such as the circumcision and presentation in the temple etc” (p320: Suffolk Churches 3rd edition, 1954)
The first stone of Stowupland church was laid on May 13th 1842, by Charles Tyrell Esq of Gipping Hall, he was assisted by the Vicar of Stowmarket (Rev Hollingsworth) and the four church wardens. Present at the ceremony was a George Carr he was so moved by the event he penned a 5 verse poem. The last verse reads :-
Where ignorance shall learn the truth
And power of Jesus’s name,
Procure an antidote to sin,
To sorrow, & to shame.
Our thanks to Ena Carter for legibly recording the full poem.
A press report from 1933 looked back at the history of the Laying of the Foundation stone, describing the 18th May 1842 as no’finer day could have have been selected’ the ‘Stowmarket church bells commenced ringing joyous peals at an early hour, whilst two Royal Union jacks floated from the steeple.’
The Rev A.G.H. Hollingsworth ‘entertained a large party of the clergy and townspeople at breakfast. and there was a great excitement all along the route from Stowmarket to Stowupland. Ample accommodation was provided for the public, long rows of seats being set apart round the foundation stone for the more distinguished speculators and wagons being drawn up for the humbler classes. A temporary fence had been erected around the stone to keep off the pressure of the crowd, and parties were admitted in the area by ticket. The foundation stone was suspended from a triangular frame.’
‘Chas, Tyrell, Esq gave an address in the course of which he summed up, the need for the new church as follows: “the statistical account as to the numerical population, as according to a preceding census, that of 1831, is stated thus:- for Stowmarekt 2672, and for the hamlet of Stowupland 826. The increase as taken by the recent census of 1841, is – for Stowmarket 3043, Stowupland 903, making an aggregate population of Stowmarket and its hamlet, to the amount of 3946.
Now making every allowance for the number of persons who dissent from the formula of our Established church, there must still remain a very large proportion who cannot possibly find room in the parish Church for the exercise of their devotional services. To supply this deficiency has been the increasing object of yur pious and devoted vicar – and the stone, which I shall have the honour and gratification of laying this day, will be the commencement of the result of his indefatigible exertions; and let us hope that in laying this first earthly corner stone of a new fabris to the service of Almighty God, we shall not only be doing that demanded of us by the wants of our fellow creatures but also paving the way to a better and more full and regular observance of the Sabbath-day.’
An address by the Rev Hollingsworth described the parish church as ‘the home of the rich and poor on Sundays and a national security against infidelity and revolution’.
The proceeding concluded at 3 o’clock and a collection taken for the building fund raised £57/12/4.
Learn more about The Founding of Holy Trinity Church and the Rev Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth’s book on the History of Stowmarket was published the year after the opening of his new church in Stowupland, or read about the Rev Hollingsworth.
A report on the consecration of the church was printed in the Ipswich Journal, 3rd September 1843.
In the 1930’s the local press carried a report about ‘the history of the church which was originally built owing to the Stowmarket Church…inadequate to seat all who wished to worship there, including as Mr Wilkes pointed out in his address) the Stowupland inhabitants.’
It was erected at a cost of £1,380 of which £150 was granted by the Church Building Society
The Pulpit came from Stowmarket where it had been ‘found, supporting underground, the newer pulpit of St Peter & St Mary, Stowmarket; probably from the old church of St Peter (& St Paul)’ and described as Jacobean. (Ena Carter’s notes.)
The font came from Creeting All Saint’s church which had been demolished in 1803. Read more about HT font history.
The pedestal had been used as a sundial at Ringshall rectory, and the basin had been used as a water bowl in the garden. They were reunited and presented to Stowupland in 1843.
The font is described as an octagonal stone font possibly dating back to the 14th century.
In his unpublished memories of his childhood in Stowupland the Rev Brame recalled ‘the church (Church Of England of course) standing back in an avenue of yew trees, with the disused graveyards all around it, and its copper steeple, now weathered to green, pointing heavenwards, on a square tower with its one bell’. The Rev Brame’s family were staunch Congregationalists and in 1940 he left Stowupland to travel to China where he spent many years as a missionary.
In 1933, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Founding of Holy Trinity Church a service was held to dedicate the installation of new electric lighting ( A detailed report was carried in the local press, our thanks to Margaret Catchpole for keeping a cutting).
Over the years the steeple of the church has had to be repaired a few times. The spire stands at some 90 feet. Read Newspaper reports on spire repairs which were caried out in 1948 and 1984, both times the work was as hampered by strong winds.
Photo of the interior of Holy Trinity church taken from a fund raising leaflet seeking donations towards the expected requirement of £1,200 for a new organ (£300 had already been raised). The vicar was Rev Whitefield. On the right hand side at the front can be seen the war memorial plaque. On the left is the Jacobean pulpit.
In the 1970’s funding was found for the church to have a new organ. The 60 year old pipe organ from Culford Church replaced a 22 year old electronic organ for which replacemnet parts were proving increasingly difficult to obtain.
The new organ dated from 1912 and was a pipe organ with 2 keyboards and cost considerably more than first budgeted for, at over £2,000.
In 1982 the church got a a new Holy Table. It had been ‘designed by Rev J. Rutherford, in memory of Eric Stern, farmer, of Sheepcote Hall, & dedicated by the Rt Rev Eric Devonport, Bishop of Dunwich.’ (Ena Carter’s nots)
For more photos of Holy Trinity Church, go to Church and Chapel or see Simon Knott’s Suffolk Churches website.
To learn more about some of Holy Trinity’s clergy and Lay workers, click here.
Church fetes took place in a variety of locations.
In the 1960’s they were held at Sheepcote Hall. As this was a bit of a trek for villagers living in Saxham Street a coach was laid on with a pick up point outside Gyfords.
In more recent years, the church has hosted themed Flower Festivals
