Holy TriniTy, CookHam

OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT

There are several old brasses, including an

unusual one, depicting the Trinity, on the tomb

of Henry VI’s ‘Master of the Royal Spiceries’, a

critical responsibility in those days. On the walls

you can see one of those carved depictions of

a local family who died in 1561, showing the

parents facing each other in prayer, backed by

their extensive family. Pause for a moment and

consider those who have been an important

influence in your life, who are no longer with us.

Give thanks as you remember them.

Little harm seems to have been done to the

church during the Civil War, although we have

an inscription on one of the tombs vandalised

by an over enthusiastic Puritan who thought

the Latin reference to the ‘Mother of God’ was

too Catholic, and the offending letters were

painstakingly hacked out. There is a rather sad

inscription on another tomb to a young 26

year old soldier who was killed in a skirmish

near Warminster, which must have been when

William of Orange was on his way from Torbay to

London to take over from King James in 1688.

Much later, when a local man died in a boat on

the river, the distinguished Victorian sculptor,

John Flaxman, was called upon to illustrate the

event. The head of the Victorian artist, Frederick

Walker, is portrayed on the back wall with some

distinction. But the artist most associated with

Cookham is Stanley Spencer. A copy of his Last

Supper is on display in the church. You can see

more of his work in the Spencer Gallery, yards

from the church. Give thanks for the God-given

talents of artists whose work enriches our lives.

Holy Trinity dates from the early 12th century. There is evidence of a squint window from the cell of an anchoress (a religious hermit), whose duty was to offer prayers on behalf of Henry II when he regretted his part in the murder of Thomas à Becket. Pray for those crippled with guilt, that they may find forgiveness.

The tower was a late addition in about 1500, and

it now contains a ring of ten bells, enthusiastically

rung by the resident team and visitors. Inside the

church the music is equally memorable with the

long standing men’s and boys’ choirs now being

supplemented by a girls’ choir. All of them share

the music for the very well supported services

each Sunday. Give thanks for the gift of music

and all those who share their talents to enhance

worship.

In the churchyard, there is a stone

commemorating Stanley Spencer. It was here

that Spencer set his most celebrated painting,

the Resurrection in Cookham, in which former

residents climb out of their graves to join their

friends. Almost hidden amongst the other

graves lies the poet and mountaineer, Geoffrey

Winthrop Young, a close friend of Mallory, of

Everest fame. We also have what a former ‘squire’

described as ‘rivalling the worst epitaph in the

world’, to a young man who drove his carrier

vehicle too fast round a corner and died in

1813.

The churchyard is a quiet and peaceful place

with a gate giving immediate access to one of

the most lovely reaches of the Thames, where

the visitor can walk for some miles over the

fields beside the river, along the Thames Path.

Give thanks for the River Thames, for the life and

leisure it supports. Give thanks for the gift of fresh

water which we so easily take for granted.

PILGRIMAGE PRAYER

Pilgrim God, You are our origin and our destination. Travel with us, we pray, in every pilgrimage of faith,and every journey of the heart.Give us the courage to set off,the nourishment we need to travel well,and the welcome we long for at our journey’s end.So may we grow in grace and love for youand in the service of others.through Jesus Christ our Lord,Amen

John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford

You might also like to visit other nearby churches in the

Pilgrim Project:

St Thomas of Canterbury, GoringSite of ancient priory

St Giles, Stoke PogesGray’s ‘Elegy’

OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT

Oxford Diocese Pilgrim Project:Holy Trinity, Cookham

SL6 9SP

Website: www.holytrinitycookham.org.uk

Illustrations by Brian Hall © Diocese of Oxford