Holy Trinity Church, Rainow


Holy Trinity Church is in the village of Rainow, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Macclesfield, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester. Its benefice is combined with those of St John, Saltersford, and St Stephen, Forest. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. It was a Commissioners' church, having received a grant towards its construction from the Church Building Commission.

History

Holy Trinity was built in 1845–46, the architect being Samuel Howard of Disley, and the builder John Mellor of Rainow. A grant of £400 was given towards its construction by the Church Building Commission.

Architecture

The church is constructed in buff sandstone. It is roofed in Welsh slates, and has a stone ridge. The plan consists of a broad four-bay nave, a short chancel, and a west tower. The tower is embraced by low towers carrying the stairs to the gallery. The tower is in three stages with angle buttresses. In the bottom stage is a west door, over which is a window containing Y-tracery. The middle stage contains circular clock faces, and the top stage has three-light louvred bell openings. At the summit is an embattled parapet with corner pinnacles. Along the sides of the church the bays are divided by buttresses, each bay continuing a two-light lancet window with Y-tracery. At each corner of the church is a pinnacle. The east window has three lights with intersecting tracery.
Inside the church is a west gallery carried on octagonal iron posts. There is a wide central aisle flanked by box pews. In the gallery is a small two-manual organ, its date and maker being unknown.