Edward Bird's lovely early engraving of the newly built church provides a view from the River Derwent, where [probably] two visitors are being rowed downstream by one of the local boatmen. On the opposite bank is Orchard Holme, later the Derwent Gardens, with the road to Cromford at the top of the first slope. A solitary horseman and three people on foot help with the scale. Above them, on another plateau, is the newly built church, it crocketed spire visible for a good distance.

The foundation stone was laid by the Archdeacon of Derby on 9 June 1841, who was presented with a silver trowel. Plans of the building, a few coins and a glass vessel containing an inscription were placed in special cavity before the stone was laid^[1].

The Church Trustees of Trinity (Matlock Bath) were listed as the owners of the Church and Churchyard, with the Church Trustees of Trinity (Matlock Bath) given as the occupiers in the 1848 Tithe Award. Its number on the plan was 2421^[2].

William Adam wrote that "The position of this church is nearly equidistant between the OLD and NEW BATHS, on the same side of the High road, and on a line nearly parallel with the beautiful terrace of the old Bath. It is built in the form of a cross, which ranges from about south east to north west, and from the latter part rises a tower, 129 feet high, terminated by an elegant spire. The church commands a magnificent view of the Dale, and is from every point a neat and interesting object^[3]." William Adam loved his Matlock Bath and did so much to promote it in the years he lived in the Matlocks.

One half of Petchler's 1867 stereoview of the church.
The whole card can be viewed in an independent collection of Images of Matlock Bath.
Apart from the addition of a few shrubs and trees, this was how the church looked when it was built.

About 1859. This image captures most of Matlock Bath's really historic buildings.
The viewer can see the north west of Holy Trinity, set against the backdrop of Hagg and Cat Tors on the opposite side of the river. On the right of the church the artist has managed to include both the Old Bath and the more distant New Bath. South Parade, part of which formed The Great Hotel, is below and the house on the right was called Ashfield, formerly the Villa and once known as the Old Bath-house.

In 1871 vandals had removed a beautiful marble cross from Mrs. Arkwright's tomb and placed it on top of the milestone on the roadside below Holy Trinity. The police did have some idea who had been responsible^[4]. The cross was clearly restored to is rightful place as it can be seen as a whole in the next image. The web mistress has a 1968 photo of it, when it was still in one piece; it has broken in the interim.

A few months after the cross incident Rev. John Martin Maynard's coffin was returned to Matlock Bath for burial. He had been highly regarded when he had been the vicar and many residents turned out in respect to mark the occasion. The hearse was followed from the station by a body of gentry, trades people and others, who formed a cortege to walk behind it^[5].

Two later images, after the 1873-4 extensions.



The Church. Matlock Bath. 338.
Believed to have been taken in the later 1870s.

When the church was enlarged in 1873-4, the majority of the additions were on the side of the church that we can see here. A north aisle was built, the chancel was extended and a new vestry added. The church was also re-seated^[6]. In early January 1874 Rev. Pelly made an appeal for funds, as the church needed between £400 and £500 to complete the enlargement and so they would be free of debt^[7].

There is a hedge and wall separating the church from the grounds of the Royal Hotel. Beside the gate is a sign "Trespassers Will be Prosecuted"; the gateway was blocked in later images.

There are few memorials in this part of the churchyard at the time. The marble cross on the ledger on the right is the memorial of Emma, wife of Arthur William Arkwright and daughter of Rev. John Wolley, born July 21st 1838 died June 20th 1866 - see her MI. The plain cross is missing today but there is a suitable slot for it. The Celtic cross is the back of the memorial to Robert Strange (d.1872) and his wife Mary Anne (d.1891)^[8], who was the daughter of Peter Arkwright - also see their MI.

There is a hedge and wall separating the church from the grounds of the Royal Hotel. Beside the gate is a sign "Trespassers Will be Prosecuted". The gateway was blocked in later images.

Four men and a boy are sitting on a railing that surrounded the Strange tomb, but it is unclear whether they are resting or were about to dig a grave. Or they could have been workmen employed to fit out the church after it had been extended as there appears to be various pieces of building debris around, with doors or shuttering next to the Arkwright grave. A new fence was also being installed, bottom right, outside the original wall.

William Potter's photograph of Trinity Church, Matlock Bath, 1890s^[9]

Another cross had been added to the row of gravestone below the altar window. See Elizabeth Marsden's 1879 MI.


One of the table tombs in the churchyard.



Historic photo of the table tomb of George Withers Saxton and four of his sisters in the churchyard, surrounded by railings^[10].
There are similar table tombs on either side. On one side is that of Charlotte Dale and Mary Gratton whilst the other commemorates three members of the Cunningham family
To find this grave, if entering the churchyard from the road below, go behind the church and it against the wall at the top of the slope.

The Vicar at the turn of the century was the Rev. Charles Baker, who had been in the village since 1883 and did not depart until 1914. During a presentation to him shortly before he and his wife left he said that he had been very happy in Matlock Bath, and acknowledged all the help and support he had received during his long ministry. He added that "there was no place in the world that he loved so well. He believed it to be the most beautiful place on the face of the earth"^[11].

Some related images

Holy Trinity Church, 1905

Holy Trinity Church, 1907

Holy Trinity, 1940s & 50s

Holy Trinity & the Switchback

Holy Trinity Interior, 1907

Brunswood Road, the First Vicarage

View from Starkholmes, 1908

Also see:
Holy Trinity Church, Matlock Bath - Memorial Inscriptions in the Church
Holy Trinity Church, Matlock Bath - Memorial Inscriptions in the Churchyard
Finding the Churchyard Inscriptions
Matlock Bath Burials, 1845 - 1866
Matlock Bath Holy Trinity Banns, from 1846

References:

^[1] "Derby Mercury", 16 June, 1841. Laying the Foundation Stone of Matlock Bath Church.

^[2] See the 1848 Tithe Map, Derbyshire Record Office.

^[3] Adam, W. (1857) "The Gem of the Peak"

^[4] "Derbyshire Courier", 17 June 1871.

^[5] "Derbyshire Times", 30 September, 1871. Four parishioners from the Glasgow parish he went to after he left Matlock Bath also attended the service. See his MIs, both inside the church and in the churchyard.

^[6] Bryan, Benjamin (1903) "History of Matlock - Matlock, Manor and Parish" London by Bemrose & Sons, Limited.

^[7] "Derbyshire Times", 3 January 1874.

^[8] With sincere thanks to Doreen Buxton, who checked these two memorials some years ago. It took her some time, and wet knees, to figure out the Arkwright memorial as it had to be done by viewing low down and from different angles. So I am doubly grateful for her help.

^[9] published in Famous Derbyshire Health Resorts. The Matlocks, about 1892. Part 2

^[10] See the family's MI. There are a number of pages on this site that mention the Saxton family, including The New Bath Hotel, Woodland House and Matlock, Bank House, formerly Riversdale House, 1902.
George Withers Saxton was a churchwarden and helped raised funds to build Holy Trinity church. There is a memorial commemorating this inside the church.

^[11] "Ashbourne News Telegraph", 10 April 1914. Presentation at Matlock Bath. The Departing Vicar.