Holy Trinity Church Dartford is the parish church in the heart of Dartford and is within the diocese of Rochester. It is situated at the end of East Street and at the bottom of the high street. Also the church has a busy schedule of events aside from its three services every Sunday. The church is very active musically. It has a thriving choir who focus particularly on early music and contemporary church choir repertoire, reflecting the long established connection between the church and music as worship. Also there is a sung eurcharist at 9.30am on Sundays. In addition, there are also 8:00 am BCP Eucharist, and 6:30pm Compline services (said). Especially, Holy Trinity Church Dartford has always played a significant role in the town’s history. Founded in Saxon times, the church was built by Bishop Gundulf c.1080 and extended in the reigns of Edward I (1272-1307) and Edward II (1307-27). So, in 1313, the new church window commissioned by Chaplin Hamo de Hethe was inspected by the Bishop of Rochester, Thomas de Wouldham. Around 1470 the church roof was re-covered in lead and the tower was heightened. The bells were hung at this time which are still rung today. In around 1485, a large fresco depicting St George slaying the dragon was painted on the east wall of St Mary’s chapel. The painting remains and can still be seen by visitors and worshipers today.
The Church Has Been Enlarged in the 13th Century
In fact, the church was more significantly enlarged during the reign of Henry III (1216-72). So, it is to accommodate a new chapel dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury. This was for use by visiting pilgrims up until the pilgrimages were halted by Henry VIII in 1538 with the dissolution of the monasteries and at this time, the removal of Becket’s alter. In the 15th century, Dartford witnessed a number of royal visits. As in November 1415, Henry V marched his troops through the town prior to fighting the French at the Battle of Agincourt. On his death in 1422, Henry’s body was taken to Holy Trinity Church by the Bishop of Exeter and Hereford, Edmund Lacey, who conducted a funeral there. There are number of other interesting stories about Dartford on Plumbing Dartford Company website.