IsleofWightCOWESHolyTrinity(ronaldsaundersCC-BY-SA2.0)1 RonaldSaunders

Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, Cowes is the Yachtsman's Church, built in 1832 on the Cowes foreshore the building forms an elegant backdrop to the Castle home of the Royal Yacht Squadron and is plainly visible from the sea.

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Opening times

Sunday 9am to 12noon.

Address

Holy Trinity
Queens Road
Cowes
Isle of Wight
PO31 8BQ

Holy Trinity was built in 1832 by Mrs Sarah Goodwin to provide her son-in-law, Revd Maximilian Geneste with a living.

The church was consecrated by Bishop Sumner of Winchester as 'a place of worship on Cowes foreshore for sailors and seafarers'. Today the church is widely known as 'The Yachtsman's Church' and maintains links with the Royal Yacht Squadron and other sailing clubs on the Island. The churchyard is home to the national Fastnet Memorial, commemorating the tragedy of 1979.

The light and airy interior is home to many memorial plaques honouring former members of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The magnificent organ installed in 1884 by Gray & Davison is probably the finest instrument on the Island.

It is said that the young Queen Victoria presented her wedding bouquet to the church and the Myrtle bush growing beside the west door originated from a cutting taken from one of her bridesmaid's head wreaths. The church's connection with Royalty continues to this day. HRH Prince Phillip was a regular visitor during Cowes Week.

  • Famous connections

  • Magnificent memorials

  • National heritage here

  • Accessible toilets in church

  • Dog friendly

  • Ramp or level access available on request

  • Steps to enter the church or churchyard

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mildred

Whippingham, Isle of Wight

This site has been a place of worship since 1854, and was frequented by Queen Victoria when in residence on the Isle of Wight, the very fabric of our church is rich in royal history and heritage.