Officially known as "The Collegiate Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Stratford-Upon-Avon", Trinity Church has been around since 1210, making it the oldest building in the town. It was built upon the site of a former Saxon monastery. Startford's most famous resident, William Shakespeare, was baptized in this church in 1564 and was buried here in 1616. Tradition at the time, held that bodies buried in the church's cemetery could be dug up and removed after 20 years, allowing the plot to be re-sold. Shakespeare didn't want that to happen to him. As a "lay rector" of the church, he was eligible to be permanently buried in the chancel..."for a fee." So Shakespeare paid the fee. His wife, Anne, his daughter, Susanna, and Dr. John Hall (Susanna's husband), are buried next to him. This is an elegant church, which is surrounded by a peaceful wooded cemetery along the banks of the river Avon. We've visited many religious structures of varying denominations and beliefs during our travels. This one would rank right up there with some of the best of them.
The Collegiate Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
This is one of the most visited churches in all of the U.K.
Like many of the churches of this same time period, the stained-glass windows are works of art in their own right.
Look at the wall above the choir archway, and you can make out remnants of a centuries old mural.
On the wall of the Chancel, just above his tomb, is this monument to William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare did not want his bones dug up after 20 years and removed, as was the custom then, so he paid to have his body permanently buried within the Chancel of the church...
...along with that of his wife, Anne....
...his daughter, Susanna (notice the way it is spelled)...
...and his son in law, Dr. John Hall (Susanna's husband).
Copy of the church registry recording Shakespeare's baptism (the left hand arrow) and his burial (right hand arrow).
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