holy trinity picture 1
holy trinity picture 2
holy trinity picture 3
holy trinity picture 4

Welcome To Holy Trinity
Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's Church

OUR VISION

To be bridge-builders, bringing God to people and people to God, in the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ

Holy Trinity, Stratford, on the banks of the River Avon, is probably England's most visited Parish Church. As well as being a thriving Parish church, it receives many thousands of visitors each year due to the fact that William Shakespeare was baptised here, worshipped here, and is buried in the chancel.

Read More
Trinity Times

What's On

all events »

Latest News

Special Services for Shakespeare's Week: 

 

Wednesday 23 April – Shakespeare’s Birthday

11:00 am Coffee, Cakes and Sonnets performed by the Trinity Players

Join the Trinity Players in Holy Trinity Church singing Happy Birthday to William Shakespeare and blowing out the candles on his birthday cake which will be available for everyone to share – free event

11:30 noon to 3:30pm A full peel of bells by Westminster Abbey band

5:30 pm Organ Recital by resident organists: Benedict Wilson, Stephen Dodsworth and Jim Fellows

followed by…

6:00 pm A special Festal Evensong service

These are taking place in the church in which William Shakespeare was christened and  buried and will be one of the first events of Shakespeare Birthday Week 2014, to celebrate the 450thanniversary of the playwright’s birth.

Stratford College will be recording this Evensong which will be led by the Choir of Holy Trinity Church and its incumbent, Revd Patrick Taylor, and will follow the 1559 Book of Common Prayer: the prayer book in use during Shakespeare’s life.

The music selected for the service will consist of canticles and anthems Shakespeare might have heard, by composers Shakespeare might have even known: Gibbons, Morley, Byrd, Tomkins and Weelkes.

The parish register will be on display and available to view following the service when refreshments will be available prepared by the Friends of the Music.

All are very much welcome to attend this special service of celebration

Thursday 24th April – Singing Shakespeare launch concert

Click here for more information

11:15 am Sunday 27th April – Shakespeare Sunday Service

This year’s service will adopt the theme of baptism with the RSC performing ‘the baptism of Elizabeth’ scene from Henry VIII. Also, the parish register will be on display showing the record of William Shakespeare’s baptism in the church 450 years ago on 26 April 1564.  RSC musicians will also be performing music to complement the baptism theme.

The sermon will be given by Carol Rutter who is Professor of Enlgish at Warwick University and the Dean of Westminster will lead the intercessions.

Church Closures

NO ACCESS TO SHAKESPEARE'S grave at the following times:

 

Regular closures:

Chancel is closed (no access to Shakespeare's grave) on Tuesdays 10 am - 11.15 am for Holy Communion. Rest of church open to visitors.

There is no access to Shakespeare's grave on Sunday mornings, when services are taking place. Church is usually open to visitors 12.15 - 5 pm on Sundays, unless Baptisms are taking place after the morning service, when church will be closed until 1.30 pm. 

Other closures: 

 

Thursday 24 April

The church will be closed from 2.15 pm for the following Service:

Funeral service for Bernice Pargetter ... 2.45 pm 

 

 

Services This Week

See Church Closures to find out when access to Shakespeare's grave is restricted due to weddings, funerals or other special services

Every week: Morning Prayer in St Peter's Chapel (access allowed to other parts of the church)  at 9.30 am on Mondays, 9.15 am Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays. On Sundays there are services at 8 am, 10.30 am and 6 pm  (no access to Shakespeare's grave during services - but visitors are very welcome to attend)

Monday 21 April    

Morning Prayer in St Peter's Chapel ... 9.30 am

Lay Chaplain Available ... 1.30 pm - 3.30pm

Evening Prayer ... 4.15 pm

Tuesday 22 April 

Morning Prayer in St Peter's Chapel ... 9.15 am

Holy Communion ... 10.00 am 

Evening Prayer ... 4.15 pm

Wednesday 23 April

Morning Prayer in St Peter's Chapel ... 9.15 am

Lay Chaplain Available 10.00 am - 12.00 pm

Coffee Cake and Sonnets for Shakespeare's Birthday ... 10.45 am 

Lay Chaplain Available 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm

Evening Prayer ... 4.15 pm

Festal Evensong for Shakespeare's Birthday ... 6.00 pm 

Thursday 24 April

Morning Prayer in St Peter's Chapel ... 9. 15 am 

Funeral Service for Bernice Pargetter ... 2.45 pm 

Evening Prayer ... 4.15 pm

Friday 25 April

Morning Prayer ... 8.15 am

Evening Prayer 4.15 pm 

Saturday 26 April

Shakespeare@s Birthday Celebrations all day 

Sunday 27 April

Holy Communion .. 8.00am

Shakespeare Service ... 1.15 am 

Holy Communion ... 6.00 pm 

 

Holy Communion at All Saint's Luddington ... 9.15 am 

Holy Communion BCP at St Helen's, Clifford Chambers ... 9.15 am

 

Could your son or daughter become a Chorister at Holy Trinity? Click here for more information.

Click here for this month's music list.