Holy Trinity Church Stockton-on-the-Forest
In 2012 Stockton, Holtby and Warthill churches joined with Dunnington Church in a newly formed Benefice called Rural East York
Once a month a joint benefice service is held in one of the churches.
Stockton has services every Wednesday at 10am and every Sunday at 10.30am.
It maintains links with the local Primary School along with Beavers, Cubs, Brownies and Scout groups.
The church holds various functions which are both fund raising and enjoyable social occasions.
Our main purpose is to continue to be a Christian witness to the village and beyond, perform the services of baptism, wedding and funeral and be open to all who wish to join in the worship of God.
We ensure you of a sincere, warm welcome.
If you're visiting with Children why not explore the church with the eye spy cards or stained glass window quiz. Can you find the mice and lizards?
A bit of history....
In 1939 Stockton became the mother church of two other parishes when the union of the benefices of Stockton, Warthill and Holtby took place.
Until well past the middle of the 20th century the fortunes of the church revolved around such families as the Agars of Brockfield, the Lloyds of Stockton Hall and the Barstows of Hazel Bush.
This gothic Victorian church built in 1896 is still in regular use for services every Wednesday and Sunday.
The first place of worship in Stockton was in 1276 when a 'chapel' under the jurisdiction of the parish church of Bugthorpe is mentioned.
This arrangement continued until 1840 when the Bugthorpe connection was severed, a priest appointed and a new nave built in 1843 for the small sum of £650.
The church was rebuilt in 1895 keeping the style of the Early English Gothic nave. With the brunt of the cost borne by the Agar family whose 'arms' and plaques are to be found on the church walls. Other contributors to the cost of the rebuild were The Lloyds of Caythorpe Hall, the Palmes of Naburn, the Duke of Sutherland and the Archbishop of York.
In the same year 4 bells were hung in the bell tower, cast by John Taylor & Co. Of Loughborough. An additional 2 bells were installed in 1981 to make 6.
The church was reopened with great ceremony by William Maclagan, Archbishop of York, on January 6th, 1896.
This is largely the church you see today.
On the left is the latest addition to Holy Trinity's windows in memory of Marion Cooper installed in 2013.
On the right in memory of Dr. Tony Ellerker, local GP, installed in 1988.
Recent gifts to the church are a processional cross given by Carol Broadly in 1976 in memory of Peter Hayden and a complete sound system donated by Miss Eileen Hunt.
Alterations inside the building include the creation of toilet facilities and a small kitchen.
The font was removed in 2003 from the rear Baptistry to be repositioned at the front of the nave in memory of Richard Hardisty, a local builder, who cared for the church.
