Christ Church, Hampstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Hampstead |
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| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Designated | 1850 |
| Architect(s) | Samuel Daukes |
| Style | Early English Gothic |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | North Camden |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
Christ Church, Hampstead is a Church of England church located in Hampstead, London. It has special ties to the old village of Hampstead and the nearby Heath, a large park area.
Did you know that a former Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, got married to his wife, Violet Attlee, right here at Christ Church, Hampstead?
History of the Church
The church you see today was built between 1850 and 1852. It was designed by an architect named Samuel Daukes. The church is built in a style called Early English Gothic, which means it looks like old churches from the early days of England.
In 1860, a wooden balcony, called a gallery, was added by Sir Gilbert Scott. This gallery was later taken down in the 1960s. Later, in 1881 and 1882, a new entrance porch and an extra section called an aisle were added. These were designed by Ewan Christian. The church is made from a type of stone called Kentish ragstone, with special Portland stone details and slate roofs.
In 1855, the church also built a primary school next door. It was first for very young children. After World War II, the school taught children from ages 3 to 11, with boys and girls in the same classes. This was one of many schools in the area connected to churches.
Church Leaders
A vicar is a priest who leads a church parish. Here is a list of the vicars who have served Christ Church, Hampstead:
- John Pelham 1852–1855
- Edward Bickersteth 1855–1885
- George Frederick Head 1885–1897
- George Sidney Streatfeild 1898–1901
- Alfred Edwin Deacon 1901–1917
- Thomas Brocas Waters 1917–1922
- Osmond Ralph Maude Roxby 1923–1936
- John Farquhar Richardson 1936–1941
- Frank Hay Gillingham 1941–1942
- Sydney James Nisbet Wallace 1942–1953
- David Thomas Jarvis 1953–1969
- John Alfred Sampford 1969–1979
- Christopher John Fairfax Scott 1979–1995
- Paul Derick Conrad 1995–2024
- Yaroslav Sky Walker 2024–present
The Church Bells
The church has a set of eight bells that can be rung together. The heaviest bell weighs about 2,688 pounds (24 cwt). These bells were put in place in 2005. A person named Michael Royalton-Kisch, who is the current leader of the bell ringers, worked hard to raise £100,000 all by himself to replace the old bells, which were not safe.
The group of bell ringers practices every Wednesday evening at 7 PM. They also ring the bells for most Sunday services.
Some of the bells (the treble, tenor, third, and fifth bells) were made in 1938 by a company called Gillett & Johnston. They were originally from St Luke's Church in Cowley, Oxford. The other four bells were made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 2005.
| Bell | Weight | Note | Cast | Founder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treble | 6-0-1 | Eb | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 2 | 6-3-2 | D | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 3 | 7-0-26 | C | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 4 | 8-0-4 | Bb | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 5 | 10-2-12 | Ab | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 6 | 12-1-26 | G | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 7 | 17-0-8 | F | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| Tenor | 24-0-5 | Eb | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
The Church Organ
An organ was first put in the church in 1857. It was built by a famous builder named Henry Willis, who also became the church's first organ player. This original organ has since been replaced.
Around 1968, a problem called dry rot was found right above the organ. To fix this damage, parts of the organ had to be taken apart. It was stored inside the church but was never put back together. Later, it was moved and stored somewhere else.
After trying out some computer organs, a smaller, different type of organ was installed at the back of the church. The BBC once visited the church to broadcast their Morning Service. However, the large Willis organ they had heard during their first visit had already been taken apart by the time they came to broadcast live!
Here are some of the famous organists who have played at Christ Church:
- Walter Brooks
- Henry Willis 1852–1859
- Henry Parratt 1859 – ???? (he used to be the organist at St. Paul's Church, Huddersfield)
- John Charles Ward 1863–1868
- Dr. Marshall of Kidderminster 1868
- Charles John Vincent 1883–1891 (he used to be the organist of St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock)
- Henry Walford Davies 1891–1898
- Cyril Rootham 1898–1901
- Ian Graham ?–1964
- Gordon Whittard c 1964–1974?
