Holy Trinity Church from across the river
I’m a contradictory person in many ways, one of the most obvious being that I’m not at all religious yet I find churches beautiful and wonderful, peaceful places to be, at least when no mass is being held. I feel a lot closer to my own personal spirituality whenever I’m alone in a holy place, not when I’m listening to a mass or sermon. Today, we found our way to the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare was baptized, married, and buried.
Stepping into the church, despite the huge mass of people, was definitely the beginning of a wonderful experience. I felt alone and peaceful even in the throngs of people, capable of experiencing the beauty of the space as if I were the only one there. I took a took an art history class last year which focused on the years 800 to 1300, which meant we spent a great deal of time talking about churches and other buildings from that period. It was amazing to see a church from that time period in person for the first time. There has been a church at this location since the early 700s, according to the pamphlet, although the existing structure was not built until 1210.
The chancel at Holy Trinity Church, where William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway are buried.
We paid our fifty pence to enter as students and were soon near to the grave sites of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway. Approaching the chancel, my first impression was simply of light. Stained glass windows illuminated the church even on this rainy, blustery day. Someone was playing organ music, a haunting yet calming tune. I sat on the stone of one of the columns holding the room aloft and leaned my head back, beyond happy to be there. The Holy Trinity Church is definitely one of my favorite places we’ve been so far while here. The church combines strong connections to Shakespeare’s life with the history of the area, a town that existed long before Shakespeare penned his first words.
Another amazing thing about England is the amount of history to be found here. We passed a pub that claims to be the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon, called the Garrick Inn, which apparently opened in 1597. The very first colony was established in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. That pub was standing a full ten years before the first colony existed, which honestly just blows my mind. Of course, Holy Trinity Church is even older. I sat on stone that is older than I can even imagine. I enjoyed a space that people have been visiting for over 800 years. It really doesn’t get more exciting than that!