Christ Church, Clifton Down facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Clifton |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Tradition | Evangelical |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles Dyer |
| Completed | 1841 |
| Administration | |
| Benefice | Clifton, Christ Church with Emmanuel |
| Deanery | Bristol West |
| Archdeaconry | Bristol |
| Diocese | Bristol |
Christ Church is a beautiful old church in Clifton, Bristol, England. It's part of the Church of England. This special building has been officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historical place. You can find it at coordinates grid reference ST571739.
History of the Church
The church was built a long time ago, in 1841. A person named Charles Dyer was the architect who designed it. Later, in 1859, John Norton added the tall steeple. The side parts of the church, called aisles, were built in 1885 by William Basset Smith.
A Christian group at this church helped inspire a woman named Emma Saunders. She decided to spend her life doing good deeds. From 1878 onwards, she became known as the "Railwayman's Friend" in Bristol for fifty years.
In 2015, the church had to close for two weeks. This happened because strong winds damaged its steeple.
Christ Church is part of the Diocese of Bristol. It is also connected to the New Wine Network. The church now welcomes women into leadership roles and public ministry.
Church Design and Look
The church building is made of limestone and has a slate roof. It's shaped like a cross, which is called "cruciform." The style of the building is called Early English Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the early Gothic period in England.
The church has an octagonal apse, which is a rounded or pointed part at the end of the building. The north transept, which is one of the "arms" of the cross shape, has buttresses. These are strong supports built into the walls.
The tall steeple is above a five-stage tower. It reaches about 65 meters (213 feet) high. At the bottom of the steeple, there's a special doorway. It has columns made of Purbeck marble, which is a type of stone. Inside the church, there's a west gallery. This is like a balcony supported by cast iron columns. These columns are covered with timber.
Did you know there's a copy of this church? A replica of Christ Church exists in Thames Town. This is a suburb of Shanghai in China. It was built to look like English architecture.
Church Records
Important historical papers for Christ Church, Clifton, Bristol are kept at Bristol Archives. These papers include records of baptisms and marriages. They also have records from the church leaders, churchwardens, and other church groups. You can find more details about these records online here.
See also
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Bristol
- Churches in Bristol
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
