Holy Trinity is still providing for the needy, 30 years after redundancy, as LEIGH WETHERALL writes

THREE hundred and twenty five years ago, a death in the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Whitechapel, London, was to have a far-reaching, long-lasting effect on many lives in York, and still does to this day.

At some point in her life, Mrs Jane Wright married and moved to London, though not necessarily in that order. Her husband was a horner, a trade that has long since disappeared; and, on his death, bequeathed a lucrative business to his wife.

Mrs Wright died on December 21, 1676, and left to the parish of Goodramgate, where she was born, £1758 19s 7d of "lawful" money.

The will, which can still be seen on a benefactors board in the vestry of Holy Trinity Church, requested that the money be used to buy land at Rufforth and Poppleton, and a house in Goodramgate.

The rents and profits of the lands and house were to be "distributed as her gift and charity, yearly and every year for ever" by the minister and the vestrymen of Holy Trinity.

At their discretion, they were to distribute the income to assist poor boys and girls born and living within Goodramgate when they left their apprenticeships, and also relieve the poverty of widows and housekeepers of the same parish.

Amazingly, this charitable gift is still available to be applied to today.

The original lands have been sold and, due to wise investment, the original legacy has continually regenerated itself.

It has made available, among other things, 11 almshouses on Ogleforth, which can be identified by black wrought iron gates inscribed with JWC 1676-1975 in gold-coloured lettering, and a fund for the buying of school uniforms when transferring up to secondary school.

The vestrymen and the minister of Holy Trinity have been replaced by a board of trustees, and the terms of the will have been expanded to meet the needs of modern times.

But the aim remains the same; to assist in the relief of need or in the advancement of life.

Applicants no longer have to be widows, housekeepers or apprentices of the parish of Goodramgate, merely a resident of the city of York (though in the case of advancement in life applicants do have to have been born in the city as well) needing a helping hand when there is nowhere else to turn to.

Holy Trinity is one of the oldest churches in York.

The magnificent medieval stained glass window, 18th century box pews and unusual 'saddleback' roof contribute to the unique fabric of the building.

Although no longer needed as a place of regular worship, the Trust is reluctant to allow the churches in its care to turn into stale museum pieces and encourage the use of them as congregational spaces again.

For more information about Holy Trinity or The Churches Conservation Trust, contact me, the custodian of Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York, YO1 2LF. Tel: (01904) 613451.

Holy Trinity Church is open from 9.30am-5.30pm until September 30, and from 10am-4pm October-March

Updated: 10:25 Monday, September 16, 2002