Christ Church, Ashford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Ashford |
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| OS grid reference | TR 009,417 |
| Location | Ashford, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Christ Church, Ashford |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 4 January 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Hubert Austin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1866 |
| Completed | 1910 |
| Construction cost | £4,219 (£260,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Ragstone with Bath stone dressings Slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Christ Church, South Ashford |
| Deanery | Ashford |
| Archdeaconry | Maidstone |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
Christ Church is a special church located in Ashford, Kent, England. It is an active Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. It is also a parish church, serving the local community. This church is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
History of Christ Church
The church was built because the town of Ashford was growing fast in the mid-1800s. Many new people moved there after a large train factory, called the South Eastern Railway Company locomotive works, was built.
In 1864, a contest was held to design the new church. A young architect named Hubert Austin won the competition. This was Austin's very first church design. He later joined another architect, E. G. Paley, to form a famous partnership.
The church was built between 1866 and 1867. Most of the money for building it came from the people who owned shares in the South Eastern Railway Company. Because of this, it became known as "the railwayman's church."
Building the church cost £4,219. This would be a lot of money today! The land for the church was given by G. Jemmett, who was the local lord of the manor (a very important landowner). The church could hold about 600 people. A small room called the vestry was added in 1910.
Architecture and Design
Christ Church is built using a type of stone called ragstone. It also has special decorative parts made from Bath stone. The roofs are covered with slate tiles.
The church's design includes a long main hall called a nave. This nave has five sections, with windows high up (a clerestory). On each side of the nave are narrower walkways called aisles. There is also a small entrance area, or porch, on the south side.
At the east end of the church is the chancel, which is where the altar is. Next to the chancel, on the north side, are a vestry and a room for the organ. Near the front of the church, there is a small tower called a bell turret.
The windows on the sides of the church are tall and narrow, known as lancet windows. The windows at the very front and back of the church have fancy stone patterns called Geometric tracery. Inside, the arches that separate the nave from the aisles rest on round pillars called piers. The church also has a two-manual organ, which was built in 1897.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
- Ashford railway works
