Christ Church, Gipsy Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Gipsy Hill |
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| 51°25′18″N 0°05′01″W / 51.4217°N 0.0836°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.gipsyhill.org.uk |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Giles & Brian Drury |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Lambeth South Deanery |
| Archdeaconry | Lambeth |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwark |
| Province | Canterbury |
Christ Church is an Anglican Church located in Gipsy Hill, a part of the London Borough of Lambeth. The church has a long history. Its old tower, which is now a private home, is a very important landmark. This tower is also a Grade II Listed Building, meaning it's protected for its special history and architecture.
Contents
Discovering Christ Church
Christ Church is a special place with an interesting past. It's located in Gipsy Hill, a busy area in London. The church building has changed over time, but its history is still a big part of the community.
How the Church Started
In the early 1800s, Gipsy Hill was mostly quiet woodlands. Not many people lived there. But things changed when the famous Crystal Palace opened nearby in 1854. Then, the Gipsy Hill railway station opened two years later. These new additions made the area popular, and many new homes were built.
Because more people moved in, a new church was needed. The Christ Church parish was created from a part of the St Luke's, West Norwood area. In 1862, a temporary church made of iron was set up. It could seat 500 people!
Building the Permanent Church
Soon, a permanent church was planned. It was built a short distance north of the temporary one. The land for the church was given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Building started in 1866, and the new Christ Church was officially opened on June 5, 1867.
Over the years, the number of people in the parish grew. In 1886, about 4,668 people lived in the area. By 1901, the population had grown to 5,338. The church was an important part of their lives.
For a long time, Christ Church also had a smaller "daughter church" called St Jude's. It was built in 1880. St Jude's closed in the 1960s and was later taken down. Today, a community center in the same area has sometimes been used for church services.
The Church Building Today
Christ Church is a Grade II listed building. This means it's recognized as an important historical or architectural site. It stands in a noticeable spot on Gipsy Hill. The original church, finished in 1867, was designed by John Giles. It was a large building made of stone with a tall roof.
At first, only part of the tower was built. More work was done in 1889 to finish the tower and add other parts like a vestry and porch. The building was listed as special in 1981.
The Fire and New Beginnings
Sadly, most of the old Victorian church was destroyed by a fire in 1982. Almost the only part left from the 1800s was the tower. But the community didn't give up! A new church building was designed by Brian Drury and built on the same spot.
The new church has a unique hexagonal (six-sided) worship area. It connects to an entrance and to the Goodliffe Hall, which was a building from the 1960s that survived the fire. The new church is made of strong concrete and has a wooden roof. You can enter it from Highland Road.
The Famous Tower
The old Victorian church tower is very tall, with four main sections and a small pointed roof. After the fire in 1982, this tower was changed. It was made taller, got a lift inside, and was turned into a very unusual private home called "Highland Tower." Because it's so big and sits on top of a steep hill, this tower is a well-known landmark in the area.
Images for kids
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Christ Church, Gipsy Hill, London SE19.
