Holy Trinity: Gentleman Jack is back!

Two costumes from BBC One's "Gentleman Jack" will be on display in Holy Trinity, Groodramgate until 4th August.

From Wednesday 24 July 2024 to Sunday 4 August 2024 (inc), Holy Trinity, Goodramgate will be hosting two costumes used in the filming of BBC TV series “Gentleman Jack”.

·    Holy Trinity was used to film the “wedding scene” in Gentleman Jack. 
·    Holy Trinity is home to the first rainbow plaque erected in England on behalf of York Civic Trust which records Anne Lister, Lesbian and Diarist,         taking sacrament at Holy Trinity to seal her union with Ann Walker at Easter 1834. 
·    Their visit is recorded by Anne Lister in her famous diary.
·    Holy Trinity, Goodramgate is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, the national charity saving historic churches at risk.
·    Volunteers ensure that Holy Trinity is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm in winter and 11am to 4pm in summer (ie:             after Easter) and deliver diverse a programme of events across the year.

The BBC TV Series ‘Gentleman Jack’ written by Sally Wainwright tells the story of Anne Lister (1791-1840) of Shibden Hall and her relationship with Ann Walker (1803-1854). The series was filmed on location across York – including at Holy Trinity Goodramgate. Historically, Holy Trinity played a key role in the story of Anne Lister and Ann Walker. Having exchanged rings and made wills in each other’s favour, Anne Lister and Ann Walker attended Holy Trinity at Easter 1834 to take the sacrament before starting their lives together. 

Their visit is recorded in Anne Lister’s famous diaries where she writes: 
“Miss W & I & Thomas staid the sacrament. Almost all the congregation staid & though the church too small to hold many the service took 40 minutes. The first time I ever joined Miss W in my prayers. I had prayed that our union might be happy.” Sunday 30 March 1834. 
  
The pew used in the filming will be hosting two of the iconic costumes by renowned fashion/costume designer Tom Pye - Ann Walker’s wedding outfit and bonnet and one of Anne Lister’s outfits and top hat. Both are as worn by the actors, Sophie Rundle and Suranne Jones. 
 
The costumes are being generously loaned by Calderdale Museums and will be on display daily from 11am to 4pm from Wednesday 24 July 2024 to Sunday 4 August 2024 (inc). No tickets or pre-booking required – drop in and pay what you feel. 

“We are so excited to be hosting these costumes. Visitors often ask where Anne Lister and Ann Walker sat when they came here. Unfortunately, we don’t have any record of that. Maybe they used a pew belonging to a friend or maybe they sat in the places set aside for visitors against the wall. We just don’t know. Having the costumes and being able to locate them exactly where the actors sat for the filming of Gentleman Jack will enable us to bring Anne and Ann’s visit to life” - Gemma Murray, site manager.