THE CHAPLAINCY OF HOLY TRINITY, NICE

Holy Trinity, Nice, was established 200 years ago to provide a centre of worship in the Anglican tradition for a growing population of British residents. This is still very much its mission today. Within this context, we are a community of ordinary men and women, who are baptized, and who, obedient to the command of our Lord Jesus, gather together in worship, because worship is about an encounter with God and with others that changes who we are. Thus, our church building is a place of assembly, a place of meeting, a visible permanent sign of values to both English-speaking and French-speaking citizens of Nice and to the many tourists who visit the city. Location Holy Trinity Church and its presbytery are situated on one of the city’s main east-west thoroughfares within a few minutes’ walk of both the town centre and the seafront (the famous Promenade des Anglais).

The local area is well supplied with shops, restaurants and other services. It is close to several bus and tram routes, including the new east-west Ligne 2 tramway. History As far back as the 17th century, wealthy British travellers used to pass through Nice en route for Italy. Towards the end of the 18th century, they began to build villas here in order to winter in the Mediterranean sun. It was at this time that Anglican services began to be held. The first Anglican chapel was built in the early 1820s, when, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, sovereignty over Nice had reverted to the Dukes of Savoy. After somewhat informal beginnings, the chapel soon came under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London.

One of the earliest chaplains, the Rev Lewis Way, collected funds to aid the local unemployed, who were put to work on constructing a path along the seashore, initially called (in Nissard, the local language) the Camin dei Inglés. Lengthened (now several kilometres long!) and broadened, we know it today as the Promenade des Anglais. In 1842 Holy Trinity came under the jurisdiction of the newly established Diocese of Gibraltar; five years later, the Rev Henry Francis Lyte, author of the world-famous hymns Abide with Me and Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven, fell ill and died in Nice and was buried in the churchyard.

After Nice reverted to French rule under the terms of a plebiscite held in 1860, the French government gave permission to build a new and bigger church. Built in neogothic style, the new church was then still in the countryside, although the arrival of the railway in Nice at the same time meant that the area soon developed into a quartier where the English built villas and bought apartments; it was called, for some decades, Newborough. The original 1822 church The grave of Rev H F Lyte 4 The apse of the church was not completed until 1913 and the east windows were put in after the First World War. Made in Chartres, they are a fine example of French ecclesiastical art of the early 20th century.

The exterior of the church, its stained glass windows and the adjacent cemetery were renovated during 2011-2012 and were re-hallowed by the Bishop of Gibraltar, the Rt Rev Geoffrey Rowell, on the occasion of the building’s 150th anniversary on 3 June 2012. In December 2020, at the instigation of local agencies concerned with the city’s heritage and culture, Holy Trinity was registered (inscrit) as a monument historique. For 200 years, Holy Trinity has contributed to the spiritual, cultural and social life of the city of Nice and looks forward to continuing to do so.

GENERAL ATTRIBUTES

a) A spirit filled leader, confident in their vocation and sustained by a regular prayer life

b) accordant with the liturgical tradition of the chaplaincy and centrality of the Eucharist

c) committed to inclusivity as regards nationality, race, religious background etc

d) welcoming to members/visitors from diverse national and religious backgrounds

e) proactive in providing pastoral care, including visiting the sick and housebound

f) resourceful and imaginative in response to the needs of children in the congregation

g) an ability to discern and encourage vocations (lay and ordained)

h) a good delegator and someone who encourages grassroots initiatives that come from within the community

i) adept in leading/facilitating biblical and spiritual study groups and courses

j) happy to lead/engage in social activities both at church and beyond

k) experience offostering ecumenical relations with local churches of other denominations

l) willing to engage with other Anglican churches, the archdeaconry and the diocese

m) ready to offer practical help to members of the wider community

n) diligent over security of the church site and use of the church and hall

o) a willingness to engage with the CofE Diocese in Europe environmental policy