Holy Trinity Church, Warrington

Holy Trinity Church in the centre of Warrington is a handsome, Georgian parish church. Despite its location, it is not the town’s main church, ceding that honour to the older and larger St Elphin’s. The Georgians loved symmetry and elegance, both of which were very much in vogue in 1760 when this building was completed. More beautiful even than the columns and windows is the message. Clearly a congregation of evangelical theology, its website proclaims:

Preaching the Word:

Holy Trinity affirms the Biblical teaching that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross for all people. We preach from the Bible and focus on biblical truths, like forgiveness, grace, salvation, and the majesty of Jesus.

Home groups meet during the week for bible study and deeper discussion of God’s word.

One online source claims that back in the 1970s ‘the roof had been damaged by wet and dry rot, woodworm and death watch beetle and was replaced’. When I called this autumn, there was scaffolding in the galleries holding up a giant net over the elegantly decorated ceiling, the vicar explaining that it was to prevent debris falling on worshippers’ heads. I guess roofs have caused this church leadership a real headache over the years.

Roofs keep us dry and sheltered; they ought to be sound, sturdy and maintained. Even the Mosaic Law had regard for such features:

“When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.”

-Deuteronomy 22:8 (NKJV)

Although the issue at Holy Trinity is the likelihood of plaster or masonry falling rather than people, their netting, ugly though it is, fully accords with Biblical law as well as British. Better to endure a net above than a damaged head below; better to be safe than sorry. I would rather hear the gospel preached in a decaying building lined with netting than hear dangerous falsehoods from plusher surroundings.

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:4-5

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