Holy Trinity Church, Bothenhampton

Elements of Richard Norman Shaw's influence remain, particularly in the porch but Prior's knowledge and love of Early English church architecture in particular dominate.

The new church was funded by J. P. F. Grundy, one of the directors of the West Bay Building Company, by public subscription and anonymous donation.

Recognising the exposed nature of the site and in keeping with his general philosophy of building, Prior made a careful study of local vernacular traditions and developed a systematic approach to design analysis.

The church is constructed of coarse snecked Bothenhampton stone, a form of Forest Marble, from Grundy's quarry.

The stone work is rough axe faced, and Prior used the largest pieces that he could obtain constructing walls 3 ft thick.

The chancel is relatively small at 15’ x 13’, but it is sufficiently large for all its functions and to provide an open view of the altar or holy table to the congregation.

It has a pointed entrance arch that springs from two shafts of unpolished granite and eight internal steps leading up to the door.

Prior provided a heating system using low pressure coils throughout the church and a boiler room to the north of the chancel 3’ below the nave floor level.

He firmly believed in the integration of architecture and furnishings and in the need for an appropriate treatment; "A church is a place of common assembly for worship of God.

At Bothenhampton Prior designed the font, the altar rails, the choir stalls, and chest, the doors.

Lethaby designed the altar front in gesso, with intertwined wild roses, leaves and stems.

The font has a round alabaster bowl supported on eight polished shafts with moulded Early English style capitals.

Its members included J. P. Seddon, James Brooks, Ewan Christian and J. O. Scott and subsequently David Brandon, William White and Norman Shaw.

Prior provided detailed structural plans and justifications for the roof, providing information on a wide range of existing examples, including the Treasury, Merton College, Oxford, The Hall at Ightham Mote and Shaw's hall at Adcote, Shropshire.

Prior made some alterations, including the omission of iron cramps and ties and had his calculations checked by leading civil engineers.