Christ Church, Brixton Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Brixton Road |
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| Christ Church, North Brixton | |
Photo of the church
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| Location | 96 Brixton Road, London SW9 6BE |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Rev William Mowll |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Beresford Pite |
| Style | Neo-Byzantine |
| Years built | 1899 - 1902 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Brixton Road |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Southwark |
Christ Church on Brixton Road is a special church located in Lambeth, London. It was built in 1902 and is known for its unique design. The church combines two styles: Art Nouveau, which uses flowing lines and natural shapes, and Byzantine Revival, which looks back to ancient Roman and Greek designs.
This building is so important that it's a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very special historic building that needs to be protected. The church was designed by an architect named Arthur Beresford Pite for his brother-in-law, Rev William Mowll.
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History of the Church
The story of Christ Church began even before the current building. The new church was built on the same spot as an older chapel. This chapel was first called the Holland Chapel and was independent. In 1835, it was sold to the Church of England and later renamed "Christ Church" in 1855.
Building the New Church
The foundation stone for the new Christ Church was laid on December 13, 1898. This was a big event, and Princess Helena of the United Kingdom helped lay the stone. The old church building was taken down in 1899 to make way for the new one.
The foundation stone itself is quite famous! It was designed by Edward Johnston and carved by Eric Gill in 1902. The church was officially opened and blessed by Edward Talbot, who was the Bishop of Rochester, on December 5, 1902.
You can see a large clock on the outside of the church. It was probably put there when the church was first built. There's also an outdoor pulpit, which is a raised platform for speaking. It was designed by Weir, Burrows and Weir and was officially dedicated on November 3, 1907.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Inside the church, there are five beautiful stained glass windows. These windows tell stories using colorful glass.
One of the windows shows Saint Paul preaching to the Athenians. This window is very old and was actually in the previous church building before the new one was built. It was made by a company called James Powell and Sons.
The other four windows were made by Clayton & Bell, another famous company known for stained glass. These windows show:
- The Good Samaritan, a story about helping others.
- The Sacrifice of Isaac and the Presentation by Hannah of her son Samuel to Eli, which are two stories from the Bible.
- The Resurrection, which is about Jesus rising from the dead.
Church Organs
Churches often have large musical instruments called organs. The first organ in Christ Church was made by A. Hunter & Son. This organ was moved from the old church to the new one in 1902. Later, it was moved again and is now in St Osmund's Church, Derby.
In 1919, a new organ made by Henry Willis & Sons was installed. More recently, in 2007, a modern digital organ was added to help with the music during services.
Café van Gogh
A newer part of the church building is home to a special place called Café van Gogh. This café is named after the famous painter Vincent van Gogh. He lived nearby for a short time at a house called 87 Hackford Road. That house now has a Blue plaque to show its historical importance, and you can even visit it!
