Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity, Stratford, on the banks of the River Avon, is probably England's most-visited Parish Church. This site contains information on the daily life of a busy parish church, visiting times, its history and its connection with William Shakespeare who was baptized and buried here.

A Church on the banks of the Avon in Stratford is first mentioned in the charter of 845, signed by Beorhtwulf (Bertulf), King of Mercia. This would have been a wooden construction. It is very likely that the Normans replaced this with a stone building but no trace of either remains. The present limestone building was begun in 1210 and was built in the shape of a cross. From the outside, the Church building has changed little from Shakespeare's time: a wooden spire was added in 1675 only to be replaced with the present stone one in 1763.

Each year, on the Saturday closest to St. George's Day, Holy Trinity plays host to a marvellous pageant as thousands process through the town to lay flowers on Shakespeare's grave. The procession is led by the boys of the King Edward VI Grammar School (where he was educated). It includes children from the other local schools, representatives from just about every other organization in the town, members of the company of the RSC, ambassadors from dozens of countries and perplexed tourists who have just stumbled upon it!