Church of Holy Trinity, York
Photo © S. Alsford
The church of Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, is known to have been in
existence by the late eleventh century, although only fragments remain
of the structure from that period. The church was a simple rectangle
in its plan. Chancel and a south chapel were added in the thirteenth
century, and the south aisle in the fourteenth. The tower did not
come along until 1495-96.
The chantry chapel of St. James, seen in the left-hand side of the
photo above, was built through a bequest of £400 for the purpose,
in the will of Robert de Holme (1396), although there is evidence he had
founded the chantry itself several decades earlier; the actual construction
may not have taken place until the early fifteenth century, under the
supervision of Holme's son. Holme, one of the wealthiest cloth merchants in
York, had served as its mayor in 1368. About 45% of the monetary value of
his will went in pious bequests, including £86 for the poor. His
brother Thomas (mayor 1374) founded a chantry in 1377 in the church of
St. Mary, Castlegate, and Robert's son of the same name in 1428 assigned
£333.6s.8d to establish a chantry in St. Anne's chapel on Foss Bridge.
Church of Holy Trinity, York;
looking east down the nave, towards the chancel
Photo © S. Alsford
Church of Holy Trinity, York;
from the nave, southwards into St. James' chapel
Photo © S. Alsford