Our History

Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Church was built in 1851-52 on land given by the Evelyn family, Lords of the Manor of Westcott. The new parish, with a population of about 1000, had hitherto been part of the large parish of Dorking. The church was built to a design chosen by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 14th Century Gothic or Decorative style, mainly in dressed flint and with a shingled spire. It provided seating for about 250. The cost of the building was raised by subscription and Mr Charles Barclay of Bury Hill was the principal benefactor. The patronage of the living was vested in Mr Barclay and remained in the family until 1992 when it was transferred to the Lord Bishop of Guildford.
Until the formation of the Diocese of Guildford in 1927, Dorking was part of the Diocese of Winchester, and the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester in 1852.

The Interior

The church consists of a nave, chancel and sanctuary with a south aisle that was added in 1855. The vestry at the south east corner was a further addition and this was enlarged in 1985 by the addition of an 'upper room'.

The original organ was installed in the north chancel in 1872. The present organ was built in 1958 and was enlarged and refurbished in c.2000. The unusual mosaic reredos of coloured figures on a gold background was erected in 1882, and the commandment panels were put in a year later.

Seating in the side chapel originally faced north, as is often the case, but in 1936 the north facing pews were removed and the chapel turned into a Lady Chapel. This was enclosed and all pews removed from the south aisle in 2002 to provide greater flexibility. The colourful dossal and altar frontal were embroidered in 1995. The carved wood angels were brought from Oberammergau by a member of the congregation. The beautiful picture of the Madonna and child by Sassoferrato that hangs on the south wall was a gift from the Barclay family (it is a photograph; the original can be seen in the Treasury of Guildford Cathedral).

The porch was enclosed by new oak doors in C.2000.

The west end was enclosed in c.2004 to provide a crèche room. This entailed moving the Second World War Memorial to a more appropriate place on the south wall, and the font to a more prominent position by the north entrance.

Screen and projection facilities were added in c. 2006.

Windows

The outstanding window in the church is the beautiful east window depicting the Ascension. This was the work of James Powell & Son (Whitefriars) Limited and was given by Miss Barclay of Rokefield in 1893.

The window on the north side of the sanctuary showing scenes from the life of St Timothy is a memorial to Fredrick Henry Salzmann, Vicar of Westcott from 1910 to 1944, and that on the south side commemorates Charles Maine who died in 1888. Beside the pulpit, a window depicting St Cecelia, the patron saint of music, is in memory of Mary Ellen Druce of Rokefield. The adjacent window on the north wall commemorates the Marchioness of Hertford who lived at Brooklands.

Ten windows were destroyed by enemy action in 1940, and these were replaced with plain leaded lights. Two small panels in the west window are remains of the Leslie Memorial Window, one of those lost in the bombing. Lady Mary Leslie was one of the original benefactors of the church.

Memorials

The marble war memorial on the south wall names those members of the parish who lost their lives serving in the Great War of 1914-1918. The carved wooden memorial commemorates those members of the forces who fell in the Second World War (1939-1945) and members of the village who were killed by enemy action.

Two standards of the Royal British Legion are laid up in the church reminding us that until 1986 Westcott had its own branch of the Legion, now incorporated in the Dorking Branch.

On the north wall of the chancel is a carved relief of the Happy Warrior from the studio of G F Watts in memory of a young officer from the village who was killed on the Somme in 1916.

Exterior

The clock was installed to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, and the lych gate was erected three years later.

An extension churchyard, on the far side of Logmore Lane, was consecrated in 1928 and extended in 1977. A Garden of Remembrance was established in 1965 and this was extended in 1988. The names of those whose ashes are interred here are recorded in a Book of Remembrance kept in the Lady Chapel.

The “Scott Brooks Gate” was installed in 2015 by Steve and Madeleine Brooks in memory of their son.

Further Reading

More details about the church building can be found here: British Listed Buildings.

St John's

St John's Chapel was founded in 1840 as a 'Countess of Huntingdon Connexion' free church, with a gift by the Worsfold family.
The present church hall was built in the late 1960's.

Holy Trinity completed the purchase of the St Johns site in 2009, after several years renting.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning, or Wednesday morning.

Where and When - Sunday Morning

We meet at Holy Trinity Church (find us) on Sunday mornings. There are two Sunday Services to choose from:

The 8:30 am Book of Common Prayer Communion Service

This is a traditional service, with organ-led traditional hymns. It is a beautiful and peaceful way to begin your Sunday morning. The service lasts about 45 minutes.

The 10:15am Parish Service is either a service of Morning Worship, or Communion.

This is a more informal service, with a mixture of traditional hymns and modern worship songs. The service usually lasts about an hour. This service is also livestreamed on Zoom. You won't be able to use your camera or microphone, but will be able to see, hear and join in with the service, from the comfort of your own home.

Mask wearing is no longer mandatory in church, but there are designated seating areas for those who prefer to wear masks.

If you feel unwell, please do not come in person - join us on Zoom at our 10:15am Sunday services.

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space (if you're driving) and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of our Welcome Team who will answer any questions you might have about the service, and help you find a seat.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after both services. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to pause and reflect before heading home. All refreshments are free.
Accessibility: There is wheelchair access to the side of the church, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up.

Where and When - Midweek

On Wednesday mornings, at 10am, there is a small, friendly and informal Communion Service, held at St John's Chapel (find us). There are a choice of sofas or chairs to sit on. The service usually starts with a song (unaccompanied but joyful!) and lasts about 30 minutes. Refreshments are usually served afterwards.
Parking directly outside St John's is limited, so if you want a guaranteed parking space, it is a good idea to arrive 10-15 minutes early. However if you are able, there is on-street parking available in Furlong Road or St John's Road. A warm welcome awaits you!

Getting Connected

Small Groups
While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some mornings and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Do get in touch with us if you'd like to know more about any of these services, or if you have any other questions about coming along to church.

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.