Christ Church, Pennington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Pennington |
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| 53°29′28″N 2°31′19″W / 53.491°N 2.522°W | |
| Location | Schofield Street, Pennington, Leigh Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Charismatic Evangelical |
| Website | Christ Church, Pennington |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 27 July 1987 |
| Architect(s) | E. H. Shellard |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Construction cost | £3,800 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 800 |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Manchester |
| Province | York |
Christ Church (grid reference SJ653995) is a busy Anglican parish church in Pennington, which is part of Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. It is the main church for the Pennington area. It belongs to the larger church organization in the Diocese of Manchester. This church is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is an important old building protected by law.
Contents
History of Christ Church
The idea for Christ Church came from a need for a new church in the Pennington area. This new church area was created from an older church's area, which caused some disagreement. The vicar of the old church, Leigh Parish Church, named James Irvine, did not want this to happen.
However, many important people disagreed with him. These included Lord Lilford and many members of the old church. A silk maker named James Pownall was also among those who wanted the new church. Another vicar, James Hewlett from St Stephen's Church, Astley, helped to collect money for the project.
The land for the church, which was south of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, cost £500. The building itself cost £3,800. An additional £500 was spent on the churchyard fence and the furniture inside the church.
Church Design (Architecture)
The church was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like the old Gothic churches from the Middle Ages. The architect who designed it was E. H. Shellard. It was built in 1854 using sandstone, which is a type of rock, and had a slate roof.
Outside the Church (Exterior)
The church stands on a raised base called a plinth. It has a long main part called a nave with six sections, and a smaller part at the east end called a chancel with two sections. These sections are separated by strong supports called buttresses. The ends of the roof, called gables, have sloped tops and decorative points called finials. There is also a porch on the south side.
Most of the windows have three sections of glass. The upper windows, called the clerestory, and the chancel windows have two sections. The large window at the east end has five sections. The church also has a tall, square tower at the west end. This tower has three levels and looks like a castle with its flat, decorated top. It has strong corner supports and pointed decorations called crocketed pinnacles. There is a main door on the west side of the tower.
Inside the Church (Interior)
Inside the church, the main hall (nave) has a row of arches called an arcade. These arches are supported by columns that have eight sides. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are shaped and decorated.
At the west end of the church, there is a balcony called a gallery. This gallery has a decorative railing with arches. Below this balcony, a wall made of wood and glass was added in the mid-1900s. This wall separates the back part of the church from the main seating area.
See also
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Leigh, Greater Manchester
