Description: Ink drawing from a painting by Smyth. In spite of modern developments, a general air of antiquity still lingers in the vicinity of the great Cluniac monastery of the Holy Trinity, founded at Lenton by William Peverel in the dawn of the 12th century (c1105). Of the once majestic buildings, nothing remains save a broken length of rubble walling, two column bases in situ, and scattered fragments of worked stone in gardens, in the banks of the Leen, and in the walls of the chapel-of-ease now occupying the monastery site. This chapel is rendered very interesting, from an archaeological point of view, on account of these old stones, and also because it stands in a direct line with the long history of the Priory, which has been ably recorded by the late J. T. Godfrey. In mediaeval times the parish church must have been contained within the monastery, for although the benefice is mentioned in the Taxation Roll of 1292, and the Inventory of church goods, taken in the reign of Edward VI., is still extant, together with the parish registers from 1540 onwards, no trace of a separate parish church has been found anterior to the Suppression. It seems highly probable, therefore, that the nave of the monastic church was devoted to the needs of the parish. In the will of Sir Robert Burton, pbr., Vicar of Lenton, proved May 7th, 1516, he 'desires that his body should be buried ill the parish church of Lenton, on the south side of the high altar.' With the suppression of the monastery in 1537, followed by the execution of the prior and some of his monks on a charge of treason in the following year, and the consequent desecration of the monastic buildings, came the necessity to provide a new parish church. There had long been a tradition that this was built upon the site of the chapel of the Hospital of St. Anthony, which stood within the precincts of the monastery. This tradition was more than confirmed during subsequent building operations in 1884, for it was then discovered that the walls of the present chancel are actually the walls of the ancient chapel. A piscina niche in situ was disclosed, and the discarded foundations of the nave of the chapel were uncovered. I t seems clear, therefore, that a parish church was evolved by building a new and wider nave to the old chancel of St. Anthony's chapel. The level of the chancel floor was raised, new windows were inserted in the old walls, and a new roof was put on. All the new work was done in the Tudor style of architecture which at that time prevailed. This building served the needs of the parish until 1842. As the parish was then developing very rapidly, a new site between Old and New Lenton was secured, and a new church, designed by Mr. Stevens, of Derby, was erected thereon. The building when completed was consecrated (Oct. 6th, 1842) and dedicated in honour of the Holy Trinity. The old church on the priory site went out of use, and the nave was eventually demolished. The chancel and vestry were left standing and 'put into good repair and condition in order that Burial Services may be performed therein.' (from Thoroton Society transactions vol. 20, 1916).