Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield

Holy Trinity Church is the Church of England parish church of Sutton Coldfield, a historic town that is now part of Birmingham in the West Midlands. The building holds the top Grade I listing and gives its name to the Sutton Trinity ward. For visitors exploring the Midlands, it is one of the most significant historic religious buildings in this part of the city.

Why visit Holy Trinity Church?

The church shows how a small market town's parish church was reshaped over several centuries. Each period left its mark: a medieval tower, side aisles added in the sixteenth century, fittings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and a Victorian enlargement. The fabric and the interior tell the story of Sutton Coldfield as well as any local museum.

What is the history of the church?

The first church on the site dates from the 13th century and was linked to the nearby Sutton Coldfield manor. The oldest surviving part of the present building is the west tower, which dates from the late 15th century.

In the 1530s Bishop John Vesey, a figure closely tied to the town, added side aisles and an organ. The 18th century brought galleries, pews and bells. In the 1870s the north aisle was doubled in width, and in 1914 the architect C. E. Bateman restored the chancel. These successive phases give the building a layout that clearly shows its stages of growth.

What to see inside

• The tomb of John Vesey, a reminder of the bishop who shaped the church more than anyone.
• The font, which came from the Church of St Lawrence at Over Winacre in Nottinghamshire.
• Seventeenth-century screens and panelling that originated in Worcester Cathedral.
• Several eighteenth-century monuments commemorating residents of the old town.

Heritage status

The church was listed Grade I on 18 October 1949. This category covers only a small share of buildings in England, those judged to be of exceptional architectural or historic interest. The parish's story from 1250 to 2020 is told in a book by Stella Thebridge, published in 2020.

Frequently asked questions

Is Holy Trinity Church still in use? Yes. It is a working Church of England parish church with regular services. Visiting hours are best checked on the parish website (htsc.org.uk).

Where is the church? In Sutton Coldfield, in the north of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. The surrounding ward, Sutton Trinity, takes its name from the church.

Which part of the building is the oldest? The west tower, from the late 15th century. An earlier church on the site dates back to the 13th century.

Who was John Vesey? A bishop who, in the 1530s, added side aisles and an organ to the church. His tomb is inside.

Is it a good starting point for a walk? Yes. The church is a natural place to begin exploring the historic centre of Sutton Coldfield, which has a different character from central Birmingham.