Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

Holy Trinity Church stands beside the River Avon in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Built on the site of a Saxon monastery, its earliest parts date from 1210, making it the town’s oldest building. The church is famous as the place where William Shakespeare was baptised and buried, and more than 200,000 visitors come each year. Dean Thomas Balshall rebuilt much of the church between 1465 and 1497, and his chantry chapel remains a key feature. A wooden spire was replaced in 1763 by William Hiorne, giving the tower its present shape. The church holds many treasures linked to Shakespeare and English history. A 14th-century sanctuary knocker guards the porch, while the 15th-century Clopton chantry chapel contains fine carvings. Twenty-six misericord seats in the chancel show religious, secular and mythical scenes. Stained glass windows depict major saints and key moments in Christ’s life, including the Resurrection and Ascension. The American window in St Peter’s Chapel was gifted in 1896, and copies of Shakespeare’s baptism and burial records are displayed. Visitors find a quiet space filled with centuries of art and memory. The chancel holds Shakespeare’s grave beneath a worn stone slab with his warning epitaph. His wife Anne and daughter Susanna lie nearby, each marked by touching inscriptions. The organ, built in 1841 by William Hill, fills the church with music during services and recitals. A sandstone obelisk honours William Cheshire, printer and botanist, while the recent limestone extension blends with the old stonework. The river and surrounding buildings complete a scene unchanged in spirit since Shakespeare’s time.