“Bombs falling around him as he went.” These are not words usually associated with vicars. However, they paint a vivid picture of Rev Joseph Thrift’s escape from Holy Trinity Churchyard.
Welcome to Holy Trinity Churchyard. It is a place steeped in history. It’s a testament to resilience and rebirth.
Originally, the churchyard was closed to burials in 1858. The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association converted it into a small public garden in 1885. This offered a green space for the community.
Let’s step back in time. The original Holy Trinity Church was built between 1837 and 1838. It addressed the growing population due to the Surrey Commercial Docks expansion. Sampson Kempthorne designed it in a neo-Gothic style. He was better known for workhouses.
The church had a shallow sanctuary recess. It also featured a wide barn-like nave. Large lancet windows illuminated the space. A tower with an embattled parapet stood at the west end. The church’s design was simple and functional.
Now, imagine the night of September 7, 1940. Incendiary bombs rained down. Holy Trinity Church became the first British church destroyed in the Second World War. The bombing destroyed the church and its organ by Henry Bevington. Rev Joseph Thrift, the vicar, barely escaped with his life. He bravely ensured everyone was safe before fleeing.
After the bombing, Rev Thrift sought help. He placed an advertisement in the Church Times. It read, “Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe. Church bombed and everything destroyed. Can you supply one of our immediate needs?” The adjacent school buildings survived. They served as a place of worship until the new church was completed in 1959. The WWI war memorial also survived. It stands today as a Grade II listed structure.
The new Holy Trinity Church emerged from the ashes. Thomas Ford designed the new building in 1957. It features a striking mural by Hans Feibusch. The mural depicts the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Feibusch was a Jewish-born German artist.
Holy Trinity Church is known for its fine acoustics. Since 2016, it has hosted regular concerts. Musica Antica Rotherhithe performs music from the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries.
Holy Trinity Churchyard stands as a symbol. It represents the enduring spirit of Rotherhithe. A place of reflection and remembrance. It connects the past with the present. It is a testament to community. It is a testament to faith. It is a testament to art.