Holy Trinity – Timeline/History
(Compiled by Ken Turner with information from Willenhall History Society).
Page Three
Rev. William Hopkinson left in 1956. His was the shortest spell in charge but it had been successful with the church’s fabric restored. Communion numbers had been increased since 1949.
The Rev. Richard John Taylor took over the Parish in 1956 and was to stay until 1967. He concentrated on improving all the Uniformed Branches believing that the younger members of the church gave it more energy. This policy was backed up with ‘Operation Firm Faith’ again aimed at young people. The Church Institute was refurbished into tennis courts.
Holy Trinity also enrolled in the Mother Union and an Aumbry was made for the reserved sacrament and installed in the Lady Chapel.
The old school buildings were demolished and replaced with a new hall which was opened in 1960. Whilst this was being carried out an old RAF Hut was assembled to facilitate the Scouts and Sunday School. It was meant to be temporary but proved to be so useful that it was used for several years.
To help with the finances two Stewardships were carried out, which were fairly successful. On the spiritual side a month-long mission was carried out and was well received.
From 1960 onwards the Parish had the services of three Curates who followed on at intervals: Joe Martin, John Widas and Alan Broadhead. These helped with the workload of the Vicar. A drama Group was established in 1961 and was successful over many productions.
The new vicarage was opened in 1964 and the old one demolished. A light was erected to illuminate the East Window. It was unveiled on Maunday Thursday 1965.
Away from the church, a C of E School was opened. It was named Rosedale St. Giles after the church’s first incumbent. This was later shortened to Rosedale.
Following all the activity Rev. R J Taylor left the Parish in 1967. Rev. Basil Peel took over. He was a bachelor and was given no Curate to help him. His tenure was a period of consolidation although he did concentrate on the church’s heating system and carried out some improvements to it.
After Basil Peel left it was decided to move to a team Ministry. This was in order to help control the population explosion. There was a series of Team Ministers. Rev. Frazer Williams 1979-1988, Lay Reader Sheen Kay Rev. Francis Buxton 1989-1996 and Rev. Brian Prentice 1998-2005. There were Rev Mark Hathorne and Rev Carol Hathorne; also countless other priests, deacons and lay readers who seemed to arrive from time to time without any coordination. There didn’t seem any obvious planning.
At the end of it all, the clergy moved on leaving Rev. John Deacon alone to run the Parish plus that of Emmanuel Bentley.
John continued to run the church in a casual but organised unflappable manner. He had to deal with a problem with the roof of which he completed Phase One.