Parish Church of the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Church stands in the village of Fleet in Dorset, built in ashlar stone with slate roofs. It replaced an earlier church damaged by the Great Storm of 1824, when waves broke through Chesil Beach and destroyed part of the nave. The new church was funded by the Rector, Rev. George Gould, and designed by Stickland of Dorchester. Its foundation stone was laid in April 1827 and the building was consecrated in August 1829 by the Bishop of Bristol. The church has a west tower, nave, chancel and sanctuary, with all windows containing painted glass. The church is Grade I Listed and has been in religious use since its completion. In 1891 an oak altar was dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury, gifted by Sir Henry Peto of Fleet House. Improvements followed, including reseating with preserved teak and cedar pews, flooring repairs and heating installation, all completed in 1892. The work was supervised by George Vialls of London and funded in memory of Sir Samuel Morton Peto. Today the church holds monthly services and hosts weddings, funerals and other events as part of the Chesil Churches circuit. Inside, the east window shows the Raising of the son of the widow of Nain, painted by Mr. Stevenson of Bath. The chancel arch was altered during the 1891–92 improvements, and the original flooring had suffered from dry rot. The church remains a place of quiet reflection and community gatherings in Fleet. Its Gothic style and painted glass windows add to the village’s character. The preserved woodwork and thoughtful alterations reflect its history and ongoing use.