Christ Church, Broad Town facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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"A handsome building"
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 Christ Church
Location in Wiltshire
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| 51°30′10″N 1°52′20″W / 51.5027°N 1.8721°W | |
| Location | Broad Town, Wiltshire, England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1844 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 15 August 1985 |
| Architect(s) | W. Hinton Campbell |
| Style | "Late Commissioners' church" |
| Completed | 1846 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Salisbury |
Christ Church is a special church in the village of Broad Town, Wiltshire, England. It was built a long time ago, between 1844 and 1846. This church is still used today for services. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building.
The Church's Story
Christ Church was built between 1844 and 1846. The architect who designed it was W. Hinton Campbell. The land for the church was given by Horatio Nelson Goddard. Many members of the Goddard family also helped pay for the church. The Marchioness of Ailesbury gave a lot of money too.
In 1937, the church needed some repairs. Workers fixed parts of the wood that had problems.
A famous cookery writer named Jane Grigson is buried in the churchyard. Her husband, Geoffrey Grigson, is also buried there. Christ Church is still an active church today. It holds regular services for the community.
What the Church Looks Like
Christ Church is made from a type of stone called ashlar Bath stone. It has six sections, called bays. There is also a small tower for bells, called a bellcote.
Experts describe Christ Church as being in the "lancet style." This means it has tall, narrow windows with pointed tops. People think it is a very "handsome building." The church is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected because of its special history and architecture.
About the Parish
In 1846, a new church area, called a chapelry, was made for Christ Church. This area included parts of nearby villages like Broad Hinton and Clyffe Pypard. The vicars from those two villages took turns choosing a priest for Christ Church.
Broad Town became its own official parish in 1857. For a while, from 1951 to 1974, Broad Town did not have its own vicar. During that time, it worked closely with St Bartholomew and All Saints Church in Wootton Bassett.
Today, Christ Church is part of a larger group of churches. This group is called the Lyneham and Woodhill benefice. It includes five other churches nearby.
Old records from the church, called parish registers, are kept safe. These records start from 1847. You can find them at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
