Holy Trinity Church, Cookham on Thames

The church has evolved over the centuries from an early Norman foundation and possibly reuses some material from the 'lost' Saxon Monastery recently discovered next door to the church by a team from Reading University. Over the centuries the church has continuously changed, adapting to meet the needs of the community.

The recent renovations are yet another chapter in the building's long history which has included a medieval anchorite's cell (now lost under the Lady Chapel) and tombs dedicated to Medieval and Tudor spice merchants who served their king. It has a ring of 10 bells, and is sited near the River Thames. Discover the church and then walk through to the river figured in Sir Stanley Spencer's paintings. It is all part of a beautiful village still containing Medieval buildings which he knew as his 'little piece of Heaven'.

The church now shows its architectural bones more cleanly without the fixed pews which allows the space to be used by the community whilst retaining its integrity as a place of Christian worship and welcome. There is a little parking near the church for visitors with limited mobility, or public parking on the Moor which is run by the National Trust. The church can be accessed by a circular walk of around 1 mile which includes a scenic stretch of the Thames and the old High Street. There will be tours of the bellchamber, but numbers will need to be strictly limited for safety as the chamber is up a steep, worn and narrow set of steps.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:

1100-1600

Sunday 14 September:

1400-1600

Saturday 20 September:

1100-1600

Location & directions

Ferry Lane, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL69SN

Directions:

If visitors are able to manage the circular walk via the river please use the National Trust car park on the Moor (High Street, Cookham, SL69SG). Walk through the field to the river, turn East (downstream) towards the bridge and take the path to church via Bellrope Meadow. Church parking: By car from the North: once over the bridge, pass The Ferry pub to left and the access is to the right on the dogleg bend - take care, dangerous bend. Coming from South: the turning is on the left just after the junction with High Street. There is a branch line to Cookham station that runs from Maidenhead on the GWR. It is a brisk walk of about one mile down to the village and through it to the church There are local bus services

Contact on day:

Mark Stockdale

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

This is a medieval building so visitors should exercise caution moving around. There are access ramps into the church and in the Clement Chapel. The building is level inside. Small group tours of the ringing chamber will be available strictly on a first come basis (please check on arrival) but must be limited in number for safety reasons. Access is only via a steep, narrow and uneven stairway and are not recommended for young children, or anyone with mobility issues or heart problems. Dogs may not go up the tower for safety reasons.

Additional information

1/Reading University's archaeological dig's artist in residence, Phyllida Shelley, will be exhibiting work related to this year's discoveries from the site of the Saxon monastery. There will also be work from visiting artists 2/Cookham Holy Trinity School will be hosting a display showcasing their creative response to the church as part of their local history project 3/Restitching History - a project to repurpose some of the church's collection of kneelers will have the two new tapestry screens on display 4/ There will be a children's trail to find Cookham's birds

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