Restoration Work Begins On Historic Steps To Guildford’s Holy Trinity Church

Published on: 16 Jan, 2018
Updated on: 17 Jan, 2018

Restoration work is beginning on the steps leading up to Holy Trinity Church in Guildford High Street.

The ceremonial steps leading from the High Street pavement up to the north side of Holy Trinity Church. Work is starting to renovate them and bring them back into use.

The project starts with the curved (north) steps leading from the High Street to the door on the long side of the church. It continues with the (west) steps that lead from the churchyard down to the High Street – a busy footpath from car parks up the hill to the town centre.

The work is being funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£79,900), another from Guildford Borough Council (£28,000) and by money raised over recent years in the Holy Trinity Big Appeal. All the work is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.

The congregation of Holy Trinity Church celebrating the completion of the Big Appeal.

The church says that access to it is vital for thousands of visitors each year attending school events, concerts, lectures, exhibitions and social events, as well as church services.

A ramp was installed a few years ago but the condition of the steps has deteriorated beyond repair. This project will mean that everyone will be able to get in and out of the church easily, whether on wheels or on foot. It will also greatly improve the pedestrian route to the High Street on the church’s west side.

The Revd Canon Robert Cotton, Rector of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s churches, said: “Thanks to a previous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have been able to make the church waterproof and to redecorate its wonderful Georgian interior.

“This new grant will make it easier for us to open the church to all-comers. With the help of National Lottery players and Guildford Borough Council, more visitors will be able to experience the spiritual tranquillity and the architectural ‘wow’ factor of the church. We welcome everyone and look forward to more people crossing the threshold, for whatever purpose brings them into this wonderful place.”

After years of fundraising and planning, the new stones are now being quarried at Portland, and cut to shape and size in Birmingham, before being delivered to Guildford. On the curved, ceremonial steps, about one third of the existing stones will be replaced, the remainder being turned over and re-used.

As well as the construction work, there will be a programme of events (all free of charge) so that members of the public can discover their local heritage in and around the church.

The first of these is a free public lecture by local historian and Guildford Dragon NEWS writer, David Rose, on Monday, February 12, 2018 at 7.30pm in the Trinity Centre, Trinity Churchyard. No need to book, just go along.

David will focus on historic events that have taken place on or near the steps of Holy Trinity Church. These include royal proclamations, public gatherings, notable services at the church, as well as events in the street such as the infamous Guy Riots, carnival processions and parades, cycle racing and, of course, the people linked with them.

Holy Trinity Church, Guildford.

The ceremonial north steps date from the time the church was re-built in the 18th-century. The steps have been closed for more than two years for safety reasons.

The restoration work will be undertaken by Pierra Ltd, and the project architects are Thomas Ford & Partners. This is the same team that successfully completed the recent restoration work around the roof and the interior of Holy Trinity Church.

The parish adds that it received many letters of support from High Street businesses and local organisations, for which it is extremely grateful, and which it used as part of its application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding for the steps.

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