The Timeline for Holy Trinity Church
845 - 2026
845
Saxon monastery on site with wooden buildings. Beorthwulf, King of Mercia, grants Bishop Heaberht of Worcester privileges to the ‘monks of Ufera Stret Ford on the banks of the Eafene.’
1086
Stratford mentioned in Domesday Book: “in demesne two carucates with twenty-one villains and a priest”. Norman church built in stone over earlier Saxon foundation.
1196
Charter granted by Richard I to the lord of the manor, John de Coutances, Bishop of Worcester, giving the right to hold a weekly market with defined burgage plots for the new town.
1210
Transepts and tower of church constructed as we see them today.
1280 - 1310
Pillars supporting tower strengthened and tower increased in height (or rebuilt). North aisle of nave widened to make space for Lady Chapel. Processional arches closed on west and east sides of north transept, leaving ‘squint’ openings to view high altar in old chancel.
1331
New south aisle of nave built by John de Stratford, former Rector of the church, to accommodate St Thomas Becket chantry chapel. This became a major place of pilgrimage and so funded a college of priests. John de Stratford became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1333 and later Chancellor of England.
1353
College building constructed near the church by Ralph de Stratford, Bishop of London, to house the priests serving the chantry.
1413
Henry V added to endowments of the College, granting the title of Collegiate Church.
1465 - 1490
Construction of new chancel by Thomas Balsall, Dean of the College. Stained glass windows paid for by Hugh Clopton.
1480 - 1485
Construction of new chancel by Thomas Balsall, Dean of the College. Stained glass windows paid for by Hugh Clopton.
1500 - 1510
Building of clerestory with lantern windows above nave and great west window by Ralph Collingwood, Dean of the College.
1538
​Royal Injunctions instructed the clergy to take down images 'abused' by superstitious rites and to preach against pilgrimages. No candles except on rood, high altar and Easter sepulchre. No veneration permitted of images or relics. No more lights burning before the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Lady Chapel.
1547
Henry VIII died and Edward VI became King. Royal Injunctions required destruction of ‘abused’ images and pictures, prohibition of processions around the church at Mass and recitation of the rosary. The College was disbanded and all College property reverted to the Crown.
1553
Edward VI died. Mary Tudor became Queen. 2,000 married clergy evicted. All religious laws of Edward’s reign repealed and the Latin Mass restored. Widespread execution of Protestants.
1558
Mary Tudor died and Elizabeth I became Queen. Set of five bells brought from Hailes Abbey and fitted in tower.
1561 - 1565
Stained glass removed and images defaced at Holy Trinity. Medieval rood screen moved from nave arch to block off chancel. Wall paintings covered by limewash.
1564
Baptism of William Shakespeare on 26th April: “Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspeare” (William son of John Shakespeare).
1582
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, not in Holy Trinity Church but perhaps at Temple Grafton.
1583
Susannah Shakespeare was born, six months after her parents marriage and baptised on 26th May.
1585
Shakespeare's twins Hamnet and Judith born and baptised in Holy Trinity on 2nd February.
1596
Hamnet Shakespeare dies, aged 11. He is buried somewhere in the churchyard on 11th August.
1605
William Shakespeare purchased a lease of a moiety of church tithes, by which he became ‘Lay Rector’. This made him responsible for the maintenance of the chancel and allowed him to purchase the area for his family graves in front of the high altar.
1611
King James Bible published (Holy Trinity receives second printing, 1613). An unproved suggestion is that Shakespeare may have been involved in the translation into English because of the coincidence that in psalm 46 the 46th word from the start is "shake" and the 46th word from the end is "spear".
1616
Judith Shakespeare marries Thomas Quiney on 10th February but without the necessary special licence require for a wedding in Lent. Thomas Quiney was excommunicated.
