Famous York church closed after tree collapses

One of York’s most beautiful medieval churches is closed today after a tree fell over in its churchyard.

The tree collapsed overnight next to the Holy Trinity Church on Goodramgate.

Fortunately it caused no damage to the church or adjacent buildings.

Workers have already been along to the church and removed most of the tree, but the church said it was due to be closed all day while the operation continued.

Holy Trinity said the tree had polypore in its trunk – a form of fungi which consumes the wood.

According to the the church on twitter, that meant it was due to be felled soon anyway. They added:

• The advice we got suggested pollarding and reducing over the next few months, but it seems the tree had other ideas!
  

Run by the Churches Conservation Trust, Holy Trinity dates from the 15th century. It is the only church in the city with box pews.

It is also the church where Victorian businesswoman and diarist Anne Lister ‘married’ her partner Ann Walker – possibly the first such same-sex union in a church.

A rainbow plaque to mark that milestone was unveiled by York Civic Trust earlier this year.

It also featured in the filming of a BBC TV drama about the life of Anne Lister, Gentleman Jack, which aired over summer.