Christ Church, Bath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Bath |
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| OS grid reference | ST7465 |
| Location | Julian Road, Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.christchurchbath.org |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Christ Church |
| Dedicated | November 7th, 1798 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | John Palmer |
| Style | neo-Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bath stone |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Bath |
| Archdeaconry | Bath |
| Diocese | Bath and Wells |
| Province | Canterbury |
Christ Church, Bath is a special church located on Julian Road in Bath, England. It is known as a proprietary chapel, which means it is owned by a private group or trust, not by the local church area.
Contents
History of Christ Church
Why Christ Church Was Built
This church was started by caring religious leaders and regular people. They wanted to help those who couldn't attend church because of something called "pew rents." Back then, many churches charged money to sit in their pews. Christ Church was likely the first church at that time to offer seats for free. This meant everyone could come and worship, no matter how much money they had.
Important Early Supporters
Many important people supported Christ Church from the beginning. These included the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is a very high leader in the Church of England. Another famous supporter was William Wilberforce. He was a strong voice against slavery and worked hard to end it. Martin Stafford Smith, who was the godfather of John Keble, also helped. John Keble was one of the founders of the Oxford Movement, a religious group that brought changes to the Church of England.
How Christ Church Works Today
Christ Church is not a regular "parish church." A parish church serves a specific local area. However, Christ Church offers services and activities just like a parish church. People come to worship here from all over Bath and even from further away.
The church is owned by a special group called a charitable trust. This trust helps make sure the church runs smoothly. A board of Trustees and a Church Council manage everything.
Christ Church is part of the Bath and Wells Diocese. This is a larger area of churches within the Church of England. The priests who work at Christ Church are "non-stipendiary." This means they are volunteers and do not get paid for their church work. Because of this, many different priests have served at the church over its 200-year history.
In recent years, many students from the University of Bath have attended Christ Church. Angela Berners-Wilson was one of the assistant priests here until July 2016. She is famous for being the first woman to become a priest in the Church of England.
The Church Building
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Design and Style
The church building was designed by John Palmer. He was a main architect in Bath during the Georgian period, which was a long time ago. The church was built in 1798. It has a "neo-Gothic" style, which means it looks like older Gothic churches but was built more recently. It also has classic shapes and sizes.
Inside, there are side sections called "north and south aisles." There is also a "gallery" on three sides, which is like a balcony for seating. In 1865-1866, a rounded part called an "apse" was added to the church. This work was done by John Elkington Gill, whose company did a lot of other work on the church later on.
Stained Glass Windows
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. On the south side of the gallery, some windows were made by A. O. Hemming. They show pictures of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the story of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
At the west end of the church, two windows were made by James Powell and Sons. These windows show Christ in Majesty, which means Jesus as a king, and the story of Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead.
In the apse, there are nine tall, narrow windows called "lancet windows." These were made by Clayton and Bell. The windows in the main part of the church show different saints, angels, and people from the Bible. Their pictures are based on a famous Christian hymn called the Te Deum Laudamus.
Interior Features
The church also has a special wooden altarpiece. This is a decorated screen behind the altar. In 2020, a new central altar was put in. It came with matching furniture, including seats for the choir and readers. These new pieces were placed on a larger platform in the chancel, which is the area around the altar.
Church Bells
In 2015, a new set of bells was placed in the church tower. These bells were "recast," meaning they were melted down and reshaped to make new ones.
Music and Events
The Organ and Choir
The first organ in the church was installed in 1800 by John Avery. In June 2003, a famous musician named David Briggs played the first concert on the organ after it was rebuilt. Deane's organ builders from Taunton did this work. The organ was worked on again in 2018-2019 by Nicholson & Co.
The church choir sings at the main Sunday morning service every week. They also sing at a special service called choral evensong once a month. Sometimes, they sing at other special services too.
Concerts and Other Events
Christ Church is often used as a place for concerts during the Bath International Music Festival. In recent years, famous musicians like Joanna MacGregor, the Hilliard Ensemble, and Exaudi have performed there. In 2005, it was the location of the very last concert by the Bath Festival Chorus. This concert was led by James MacMillan.
The church also hosts book signings. These events are set up by a local bookshop. Authors who have shared their books at Christ Church include Gordon Brown, Paddy Ashdown, Prue Leith, Ruby Wax, and Brian May.
