{"id":1995,"date":"2015-02-19T14:14:43","date_gmt":"2015-02-19T14:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/?page_id=1995"},"modified":"2022-12-01T11:30:21","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T11:30:21","slug":"our-buildings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/about\/our-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Our buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Church Site
\n<\/strong><\/span>While early services were being held in the Drill Hall in St George\u2019s Road, in the summer of 1885, a plot of land was chosen:\u00a0 \u201c in Mansel Road, about 150 yards from the main road. \u00a0It has a frontage of 70 feet and a depth of 239 feet and is about five minutes\u2019 walk from the Station\u201d.<\/p>\n

Church Hall (later the \u201cOld Hall\u201d)
\n<\/strong><\/span>Architects, Potts Sulman and Henning, were engaged to draw up plans for a Hall. \u00a0This was designed to \u201ccomfortably hold 200 people\u201d.\u00a0 It was built by a Mr Nightingale who started work after Christmas 1885. \u00a0The Hall was opened for worship on the first Sunday of May 1886 and this became the first \u201cchurch\u201d on the site. \u00a0The total cost, including fees, was \u00a31500.<\/p>\n

It was immediately realised that other rooms, a vestry, committee room and small kitchen, were essential and were added.<\/p>\n

Church
\n<\/strong><\/span>By 1890 the congregation was outgrowing the Hall and in that year work began on the building of the Church itself. \u00a0Originally designed to hold 550, the foundation stone was laid on 30th<\/sup> June 1890 by Samuel Smith MP.<\/p>\n

The walls of the Church were of natural yellow brick with red brick trimmings. \u00a0There were no carpets or stained glass windows. \u00a0Gas lamps hung from the roof beams and burners flickered in the transept windows. \u00a0After much discussion is was decided to build a tower and spire but not to proceed with galleries over the transepts.<\/p>\n

The Church was dedicated on Friday 10th<\/sup> April 1891.<\/p>\n

The total cost of the buildings (including the organ \u2013 see below) was \u00a38170.<\/p>\n

Many of the items of Communion plate still in use, a jug, four chalices and plates (inscribed \u201cTrinity Presbyterian Church\u201d) must date from the early days of the Church.<\/p>\n

Freehold
\n<\/strong><\/span>It took the Church until 1902 to pay off the building debt, but having done so it was decided to purchase the freehold at a cost of \u00a3945, with the help of a mortgage. \u00a0This was finally cleared in 1912.<\/p>\n

Organ
\n<\/strong><\/span>At the Drill Hall, Mansel Road (Old) Hall and for the first year after the Church was built a harmonium was used to accompany the hymn singing.<\/p>\n

In 1892 an organ was purchased from, and constructed by, Messrs Bishop and Son, an instrument that served the Church until 1964. \u00a0At first an organ blower was employed and both he and the organist were positioned behind the pulpit.\u00a0 In 1928 mechanical blowing was installed by Bishops, the instrument overhauled and the console moved to the east transept (cost \u00a3761).<\/p>\n

By the early 1960s it was recognised that the organ should be replaced. \u00a0Crouch Hill Presbyterian Church was closing and their organ was purchased for a nominal \u00a3500. \u00a0This instrument had been built in 1927 by G H Foskett, later incorporated in Gray and Davison Ltd. \u00a0The said Gray and Davison rebuilt the organ in Trinity at a cost of \u00a32950 and it was dedicated in 1964.\u00a0 Considerable work was carried out on the organ in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

In 1997 a new console was purchased using a bequest from the late Harry and Betty Gorman.<\/p>\n

By 2012 problems with the pipe organ had become increasingly obvious and prohibitively expensive restoration was required.\u00a0 After extensive research, it was eventually decided to replace it with a digitally controlled three manual Johannus Ecclesia<\/span>\u00a0o<\/span>rgan with an immensely flexible sound palette able to encompass registrations from pipe organs across Europe, so that German, French and English organ music, among others, can be played with voices faithful to their original composers.\u00a0 The new organ was given in memory of Dr Robin Paul and dedicated by the Moderator of URC General Assembly, Revd Nigel Uden, on Easter Sunday 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

War memorials<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"War<\/a><\/p>\n

Following the Great War a memorial was erected in the north wall of the transept, bearing the names of seventeen men connected with the church who had died in the conflict. \u00a0A further plaque was added showing six names after the Second World War.\u00a0 The memorial was later moved to the vestibule and, in 2013, after professional restoration, to the west wall.<\/p>\n

(See: trinityremembers.wordpress.com for further information about those commemorated on the memorial).<\/p>\n

Electrification
\n<\/strong><\/span>Electricity was installed in 1924 at a cost of \u00a3140 plus fittings. \u00a0A series of chandelier-type lights was installed in the nave. \u00a0At the same time the church was thoroughly cleaned (\u00a398). Services were held in the Hall for six weeks.<\/p>\n

Kitchens
\n<\/strong><\/span>The first kitchen (1886) was very small and always considered inadequate.
\nIn 1917, while the Hall was being used nightly to entertain soldiers from the camp on the Common, a new kitchen was built, thanks to the generosity of Mr Moody-Stuart. \u00a0This was said to be twice the size of the old kitchen, \u201cwell ventilated and furnished with every needful appliance\u201d.<\/p>\n

In 1980 that kitchen was demolished and replaced by a much larger, modern, prefabricated building.
\nThat kitchen was demolished and replaced at the time of the Redevelopment (see below).<\/p>\n

Upstairs Room
\n<\/strong><\/span>The north walls of the Hall had suffered subsidence in 1911 and 1921. This recurred in 1939. Following extensive underpinning of the Session room it was decided to build a new room (known as the \u201cUpper room\u201d) above it and to install a Gentlemen’s cloakroom.<\/p>\n

Church furnishings
\n<\/strong><\/span>1935:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr G G Young gave to the Church a new baptismal font, a new Communion table (the carved oak sides carrying the old \u201ctop\u201d), pulpit furnishings and carpets from the vestries to the Communion table. At the same time the stonework of the pulpit was cleaned.<\/p>\n

1953: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A Communion table lectern was given anonymously.<\/p>\n

c1954:\u00a0\u00a0 A minister\u2019s chair was given in memory of Sir Walter Kinnear.<\/p>\n

1956:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In memory of Revd. Douglas McRitchie a brass alms dish and offertory bags were given (in addition to the stained glass windows mentioned elsewhere).<\/p>\n

1959:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From the bequest of Mr G G Young the following items were received: \u00a0Elders\u2019 chairs, lectern, larger top for the Communion table, carpet down both aisles, garden with roses for the forecourt.<\/p>\n

c1965: \u00a0 After the organ was built a frame was constructed to fill the central panel behind the pulpit. \u00a0A member gave blue\/gold material which was fixed to the frame.<\/p>\n

1967:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From the bequest of Mrs A F Young a silver baptismal bowl.<\/p>\n

c1965:\u00a0\u00a0 A wooden cross was constructed and erected above the organ by Mr Alan Rumsby.<\/p>\n

1966:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Two wooden outside seats were given in memory of Mr Donald Goss.<\/p>\n

1984:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At the time of the Centenary embroidered cushions were given for the chairs at the Communion table, together with two embroidered kneeling stools.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A silver font flower bowl was given in memory of Mrs Margaret Jamieson, who died in 1978, and a garden was created on the forecourt with a memorial seat.<\/p>\n

2000:\u00a0 Mrs Ruth Carlyle presented an embroidery of hands reaching upwards towards the cross that hangs above. The hands represented are male, female, child, white and black.<\/p>\n

Stained glass windows<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All the stained glass windows in Trinity were designed and made by Messrs Goddard & Gibbs.<\/p>\n

In 1956 an appeal was launched in memory of Revd. Douglas McRitchie. \u00a0\u00a3559 was received. \u00a0Five stained glass windows were installed in the west wall of the Church. \u00a0These represent St Francis, St Andrew, The Sower, Jesus with the children, and the Good Shepherd.<\/p>\n\n\t\t