Hello and welcome to Holy Trinity Dinting Vale Glossop. Here you’ll find an active, caring, traditional church community of all ages from across Glossopdale and a beautiful church with community & prayer space and a robed choir accompanied by a rather fine organ every Sunday morning. We are right next door to Dinting Church School, and parking available there on a Sunday morning if spaces unavailable along Dinting Vale, and community and family are of great importance with regular Christenings & Baptisms, and Weddings very special celebrations.

We are an accepting and inclusive church, seeking to welcome everyone. You’ll find a welcoming, active and friendly worshipping community of all ages, welcoming young and old, and parents with young children - we don’t mind if the children make a noise! In fact there are instruments and a designated children’s area and activities for them.

Children and Young people have a special place at the heart of the Dinting community not only with Dinting School next door but our support to the Holy Trinity Dinting Vale Cricket Club, and every second Sunday of the month at 3.30pm is Messy Church for all the family with a free hot meal for everyone. For Secondary School age - TNT after school drop-in happens every Friday during term time a safe space to chat & chill with free Tea N Toast and plenty of hot chocolate also. Sunday evening at 7pm is the ROOTS Youth Club which is hosted at The Vineyard building on Charlestown Road. There are plenty of other regular events going on including on the third Friday of the month "Scones of Praise" 1.45pm-2.45pm open to everyone to enjoy a cup of tea, a variety of cakes and scones and good conversation and companionship followed by singing your choice of hymns. And the popular Soup Service is now back on the fourth Friday of the month in church at 6.30pm.

That’s a lot to take in, so here’s a list of our usual activities:

Sunday morning Services always at 9.30am include 1st Sunday - Choral Holy Communion, 2nd Sunday - Morning Prayer & Messy Church at 3.30pm, 3rd Sunday - Holy Communion Service, 4th Sunday - Baptism Celebration

Come along and join in, we look forward to seeing you.

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, heartbroken or in a happy relationship. We welcome you if you have won the lottery or are struggling to pay the gas bill. If you are carrying a crying new-born or arguing with your teenager - welcome. We welcome you if you don’t know the Lord’s Prayer or if you are worried about when to stand up and when to sit down (don’t worry; we will guide you through every step!) We don’t mind if you have never been to church before, if you only ever come for Christenings, weddings and funerals or if you cut your baby teeth on the pews. If you can’t sing, join the crowd - we’ll never be on Britain’s Got Talent...
If you are growing old but refuse to grow up - or young and can’t wait to grow up - welcome. If you are resisting getting varifocals, you are in good company. If your preferred mode of transport is a skateboard, come on in. We love art in any form, even if it is inked onto your body or pierced through your eyebrows. If you are in recovery or are still addicted, or have just come in to get warm, then you are welcome here. If you have a sight problem, we will guide you to your seat. If you have a hearing problem, we have a loop system. If you are in a wheelchair, we have a ramp and will give you Communion or a Blessing at your seat. If you have children who think that life is far more exciting than sitting down and being quiet, then there’s an activity corner just for them.

We don’t mind if you are a Red or a Blue. We welcome you if you live in our Parish, our town, our country or on our planet. We welcome atheists, humanists, seekers, doubters, and those who are here because Granny needed a lift to church. If you are fed up with life, religion, or football, come on in. If you are full of the joys of spring or lower than the deepest pit, there is a place for you here. If you broke your New Year’s resolution before the end of the first week, there is a place for you here - even if you do still need a smoke or could do with losing a few pounds...hey, nobody’s perfect!

We especially welcome you if you could do with a prayer right now. If you could really do with some compassion and understanding, maybe even a bit of hope...

...we welcome YOU.

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We stand now at the West end of the Church.

The style of architecture of the building is late 13th Century. The exterior stone is of and, originally, the interior was of cream coloured brick pleasantly relieved by bands of dull red. The interior changed somewhat in 1975 (100th Anniversary) when, for the first time, the chancel and north and south walls were painted.

The nave is 74ft (22.5m) long, 26.5ft (8.07m) high, sloping to 49.5ft (15.08m) at the apex of the roof. The Chancel has an octagonal apse and the Clergy Vestry and Organ Chamber are, respectively, at the north and south sides of the Choir.

The Nave is of bays, divided by circular stone pillars with moulded capitals and bases. The roof consists of open timber work.

The Cancel arch is 24.5ft (7.46m) high and is richly moulded. The Chancel roof is supported by corbels in the form of angels playing musical instruments.

Earlier photographs of the interior of the Church show that it was lit by gas from magnificent chandeliers. Heating was by coke-fired boilers, gas fired boilers and then quartz electric heaters installed in March 1984 which were in use throughout the Nave and Chancel until the new eco-heating system was installed in late 2022. Most of the funding for this latter form of heating came from a sponsored swim carried out by Rev. Gordon Percy who was sponsored to swim 101 lengths of Glossop Baths - and the Rev Percy only had one arm! The now obsolete and obtrusive gas heaters were originally installed in May 1988 and plans were put in place to replace these fossil fuel eyesores with an Eco-electric heating system too also complement and enhance the architecture around the Church and dramatically reduce carbon emissions towards net-zero.

Depending on the time of day and sunshine this may well be the best view of the stained glass at the East end of the Church and more information will be provided when we are in the Chancel. As we face towards the Chancel, let us now move to our right, along the South aisle to the Font.

The Font is made of Bath stone mounted on a red cork marble shaft and was carved by Bonehill of Manchester. It was the gift of Mrs John Hill Wood. Round the Font are the three emblems: The Lamb (the Son), The Dove (the Holy Spirit), Three Fishes (the Holy Trinity) and around the top rim is the inscription:- "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost". The two lights of this window depict the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The original painting by the artist shows the Latin inscription "Ecce Angus Dei" (Behold the Lamb of God) together with the text across the lower part of the window "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3 verse 17). As you will see, in the finished execution of the window, the Latin inscription remains but the Biblical text was replaced by a dedication "To the Glory of God and in Memory of Henry Tarbatt this window was erected by bequest of his daughter Nancy Tarbatt 1922"

This plaque was dedicated on October 31st 1981 and is erected in memory of Canon J.O.M. Dawson-Bowling, Vicar of the Parish from 1937 until 1979. "D.B." as he was always known, was the last vicar to occupy the Vicarage, built in 1879, a magnificent building on Dinting Road at the top of Dinting Lane. For most of his time in the Parish, he travelled around on a bicycle, both to Church Services and on visits to parishioners. During the week, the vicar would take an assembly in school one morning each week, a Service in Church on Friday morning for pupils from Dinting School who were now at Secondary School and Intercession one night each week in Church. Following the 1944 Education Act, it was decided that we would like to retain our Day School as a Voluntary Aided School. This meant that funds had to be raised to provide extra classrooms and indoor toilets. The twelve years of fundraising, largely motivated by Canon Casein-Bowling, resulted in the opening of these extensions in 1958. Even though these extensions were re-roofed in 1981, they have now, in 2000, been demolished to be replaced alongside the original buildings dating back to 1874.

A Memorial Plaque to Canon Casein-Bowling was dedicated in the school building on July 7th 1980.

This stained glass window, dedicated on 18th March 1900, is in memory of Annie Hadfield, daughter of C. Hadfield of Viaduct House. The window is of two lights. The first subject (left) is taken from the parable of the ten virgins - five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. The five foolish virgins had to go for oil for their lamps and missed the marriage feast. The window represents our Lord as the heavenly bridegroom addressing the foolish virgins with the text "Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 25 verse 13).

The subject of the second light (right) is the raising of Jairus’ daughter and contains figures of our Lord, the father, mother and their daughter. "He saith unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth" (Matthew 9 verse 24).

On the lower part of the window is the inscription: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Annie Hadfield who died Dec 20th 1898 this window was erected by her brothers and sisters"

The side chapel was established in 1952, furnished by Miss Elizabeth Boardman in memory of her parents. Other furniture gifts were made by Mr J Mackerill, Miss D Jones and Miss L Johnson.

The tapestry above the alter is of The Last Supper after the painting by Leonardo da Vinci and that on the wall to the right is Light of the World after the painting by William Holman Hunt. Both these tapestries were executed by Fred Gregory and given to the Church. In the construction of the side Chapel, several dummy organ pipes were removed from the arch behind the alter.

The later addition to the side Chapel is the book of remembrance contained in the glass-topped case on the alter. The page in the book is turned each month.

This magnificent brass eagle was subscribed for by the Congregation, the chief fundraisers being Mr WH Bottomley and Mr Taylor who arranged concerts and other events to raise the money. The Lectern was executed by J Merry and has on it the following inscription: "Holy Trinity Church Dinting Vale February 1896". The cost of the Lectern was £62, the platform (from Garsides) cost £5.14.0 (£5.70) and the total cost with postage charges etc. was £71.4.7 (£71.22)!!

From what had been subscribed, a balance of £3.6.6 (£3.32) remained and this was used to provide the umbrella stands, until recently at the end of each pew.

It would be unwise to say what the present valuation is. Suffice to say that an attempt was made to steal it but, since it takes three strong men to carry it and, in any case, it would not fit through the small window which the would-be thieves had broken, the attempt was not successful!

At the time of the dedication of the Lectern, the Mother’s Meeting presented a large prayer book and a polished brass book rest for the Communion Table.
Behind the Lectern is a fine oak-carved Prayer Desk. This is inscribed "To the Glory of God the gift of The Dinting Mothers Easter 1910".

Let us now move to the Chancel and, as we stand at the top of the steps, turn to look at the West window. We shall give more details of this window towards the end of the tour but this position does provide a good view of the rose window.

Our Church Organ is generously recognised as one of the finest instruments installed in a Church. Built by Whiteley of Chester, it was presented to the Church by Mrs JH Wood in 1882. For those who would know about these things, a detailed specification is available. Suffice to say here that the case of the organ is of pitch pine with a decorated base. Originally, there were 33 stops and 1400 pipes.

The opening services for the organ were held on April 13th and 16th 1882 when recitals were given by, amongst others, Mr WP Fairclough (organist at Whitfield) and Mr Irvine Dearnaley, organist of Ashton Parish Church.

In 1905, the organ was cleaned and completely renovated by Mr F Dobson of Greenheys, Manchester at a cost of £58.9.0 (£58.45). The organ had been in use for 23 years and this opportunity was taken to put in new feeders for the bellows and add another octave to the harmonic flute. The organ then had 3 manuals, 56 notes, 30 pedal notes, 33 stops and 1,412 pipes. The re-opening services were held on Advent Sunday December 3rd 1905, the preacher in the morning being Rev WM Martin-Ellis and in the evening, Rev JA Martin. In the afternoon, a recital was given by Mr W Bowden, the Church Organist.

At this time, a brass plaque was affixed to the organ carrying the rather strange inscription: "This organ was renovated at the cost of the Dinting Mothers 1905".

A further renovation of the organ took place in 1932. The cost of this was £200 and the work was undertaken by Mr G B Spencer of the firm of Abbot & Smith, Organ Builders, Leeds. The work took five weeks and the organ was first used again on Whit Sunday May 15th and the organist J H Marsh and Messers E Ratcliffe, J H Marshall and T Platt (members of the choir) arranges a programme of music for that first service.

A report from the organ firm stated "... the organ contains 1,494 speaking pipes, ranging in speaking length from 16 feet to 3/8 of an inch, the girth being from 14 inches square to a tiny 1/8 of an inch in diameter ... Many of the pipes contain a large percentage of pure tin ..." (Magazine June 1932)

Until about the 1950’s, the organ was blown by hand using a pump handle in the passageway along the right hand side of the organ. This was quite hard work and if, for instance, Bach’s Tocata and Fugue was being played it was, perhaps, as much a test of the organ blower’s stamina as it was of the organist’s prowess!

This system worked well if the organ blower was familiar with the services so that he/she could start to pump in the wind before it was required. When Mr W A L Austin (known as Wally Austin) was organist, he did not enjoy the luxury of having an organ blower who did know the services and he had to install a bell push connected to a battery and torch bulb or else he would have had to suffer an agonising wait before there was enough air in the bellows. All this became a thing of the past when an electric pump was installed in the early fifties.

A complete overhaul was again carried out in 1979 and we are told that, although minor repairs were carried out from time to time, a complete renovation will be required in a couple of years’ time. We would dearly like to re-paint the dummy pipes above the front of the organ but we are told that the artwork is the last remaining example of the finest Victorian stencil paintwork.

The Central window was presented by Mrs John Hill Wood at the time of the consecration of the church in memory of her late husband.

The window is of two lights representing the return of the prodigal son. On one side is the father in the act of welcoming his son who is shown in the other light kneeling to ask for forgiveness. Above are two angels bearing scrolls with texts, which are now not very easy to read. They say "My son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found" (St Luke 15 verse 32).

Below the window is a brass tablet, now concealed by the Reredos, with the following inscription: "This window was presented by his affectionate wife in memory of John H. Wood who died Dec 16 1869". The window was made by Mayer & Co of Munich.

The Windows of the National Saints. These four windows are of a somewhat later period and were dedicated on May 16th 1922 as a War Memorial to those of the Parish who were killed in the 1914-1918 War. This information is to be found on the wooden plaque on the South Wall of the Church and we will see this later.

Starting on the left is St George of England surmounted with the rose and the motto "Dieu et mon Droit" (God and my right). Next is St Andrew of Scotland with the thistle and the motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" (No-one provokes me with impunity). To the other side of the central window we have St Patrick of Ireland with the shamrock and "Quis separavit" (Who shall separate us). Finally is the window for St David of Wales with the leek and the motto "Y ddrig goch ddyry gychwyn" (The red dragon (i.e. Wales) from the beginning).

The Sanctuary. The Communion Table is not the original one when the Church was dedicated. The present table and the credance table, both of carved oak, were presented in 1899 by Mrs Andrew in memory of her husband, Dr. Andrew. At the bottom of the South end of the Table is a brass plaque with the inscription: "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Albert Andrew, surgeon of Glossop, who entered into rest Nov 13th 1898. This Table is presented by his widow Anne Andrew Trinity Sunday 1899."

The Communion Table was originally against the East wall of the Church and was moved forward in September 1987 so that the Celebrant was now facing the congregation.

The lower walls on either side of the alter, were, at one time painted with one or two of the Lord’s Prayer, the 10 Commandments or the Apostles’ Creed - no-one can recall which nor when the painting was removed. Perhaps this was at the time the Reredos and Pillars were installed. This was in 1947 in memory of Ernest Yates. The right hand pillar carries the inscription: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Lt Enest Yates Sidesman and Bellringer in this Parish Killed in Italy October 14th 1943 The Reredos and Pillars were dedicated Oct 12th 1947"

There are two Prayer desks in the Sanctuary, the first presented by Dinting Mothers Easter 1909 and the second, more modern desk, is in memory of William (Bill) Simm.

A brass book rest for the Communion Table was provided by the Dinting Mothers in March 1896.

The Cross which was on the altar dated back to the Consecration of the Church.

Unfortunately, this, together with the brass vases were stolen on 19th/20th December 1993 and none of the items was recovered. Following a painstaking search around the country by Fred Bennett, Donald Jackson, John Green and Mary Noone suitable replacements were found and now adorn the altar each Sunday. It is, however, a great pity that such history should have been lost.

Church Plate. The original Flagon bore the instruction "Sanguis mens vere est potus" (The blood truly is drunk in memory) but this was replaced in 1912 by a glass and silver Flagon with the same inscription. On the handle is the following: "In Memoriam Francisci Thomae Norcliffe Lawrance Condiscipuli MCMXII" (In memory of Francis Thomas Norcliffe Lawrance Fellow Pupil 1912). This was given in memory of the vicar’s eldest son who died suddenly in 1911 at the age of 6.

A Paten bears the monogram IHS and the text "Ecce Agnus Dei Qui tollit Peccata Mundi" (Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World).

The Clergy Vestry was part of the original building. Within the Vestry are kept the Baptismal Registers dating from the Consecration of the Church and the Marriage Register from the formation of the Ecclesiastical Parish in 1879.

The Choir Boards were originally erected by the Bradbury family and inscriptions have been added over the years showing those members of the Choir who have served 25 years or more. Those who are so commemorated may be thrilled to see their name and year of joining carved in the boards; they never see the closing year inscribed!

We now move out of the Chancel to the Pulpit.

The Pulpit is of white stone with black marble shafts and is elaborately carved. It was dedicated on 18th November 1888 and was paid for by members of the congregation in memory of the donors of the Church. A brass plaque bears the inscription: "This Pulpit has been erected by the Parishioners and friends in loving memory of John Hill Wood, J P Daniel Haigh Wood and Samuel Wood, J P Esquires, Patrons and founders of this Church - Nov. 1888".

(John Hill Wood died 16th Dec 1869, Daniel Wood died 7th Feb 1888, Sam Wood died 8th April 1888)

Mothers’ Union Banner -Mrs Dawson-Bowling started the Mothers’ Union Branch in 1937. The Banner was made by Rosa Lord of Leicester and she and Mrs Dawson-Bowling designed it. (Rosa also designed and made the Charlesworth Banner). The original design considered was of a Virgin and Child but the Rev Dawson-Bowling thought this "too near Popery" and the design you see was adopted. The Banner was completed in 1948 or 1949 (Charlesworth a year later).

A second vestry or Choir Vestry was a late addition to the Church building. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Derby The Right Reverend Dr E Courtenay Pearce on Sunday July 19th 1931. It was largely due to the generosity of Sir J Wood that it was possible to make this addition of a vestry for the Choir.

The Memorial Plaque erected in memory of: "Gunner William Baxter Platt, Secretary Holy Trinity Sunday School, Who fell near Combles January 22 1917" by members of the School.

The Stained Glass Window - In 1903, Mr Edwin Williams, a former parishioner then living in New South Wales, Australia, asked for designs to be drawn up for a stained glass window to be erected as near as possible to his family pew. The designs approved, the window was executed by Lym Cottier & Co, of Sidney Australia, and the window brought to Dinting for installation.

The window is of two lights and shows Dorcas succouring a poor widow (Acts 9 verse 36 et seq) and the visit of the Angel to Cornelius. In the right hand light is a scroll with the text: "Cornelius thy prayers and thine alms have come up for a memorial" (Acts 10 verse 4)

In the lower part of the window is the inscription: "These windows were erected by Edwin Williams 1905. To the Glory of God and to the beloved memory of James Mather of Dinting and Sarah Mather Williams his daughter who died in Australia."

The window was dedicated by Mr Canton at the Choir Sermons 21st May 1905.

The War Memorial - As you will see, it is this War Memorial that tells us that Saints Windows at the East end of the Church are part of the Memorial.

The inscription says: "The Windows in the Chancel were dedicated May 16 1922 To the Glory of God and in grateful memory of the men from this church and school who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918"

Memorial Tablet erected in memory of Ada Sutcliffe, wife or Rev Charles Sutcliffe, first vicar of the Parish 1875-81, who died April 3rd 1926 aged 75.

We move now to the West end of the Church.

The Rose Window - This West window with plate tracing, is 13 feet (3.96m) in diameter. Below it, on the outside of the church is a scroll bourne by angels with the inscription: "Through Christ we have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2 verse 18).

So we conclude our short historical tour of the interior of Holy Trinity Dinting Church. I do hope that you have found something of interest in the experience.

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