Christ Church, Rode facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Location | Rode, Somerset, England |
Built | 1824 |
Listed Building – Grade II*
|
|
Designated | 11 March 1968 |
Reference no. | 1058062 |
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Christ Church, also known as the Church of St Peter, is a historic building in Rode, England. It was built in 1824 and is considered a very important old building. Today, it is no longer used as a church.
Contents
What is Christ Church?
Christ Church is a building that was once a church for the Church of England. It was built in 1824 in a place called Rode, which is in the county of Somerset. This church is special because it is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.
Why Was This Church Built?
The church was designed by an architect named Henry Goodridge. It was built for a religious leader called Charles Daubeny. He was an Archdeacon, which is a senior priest in the Church of England.
At that time, the area around Rode was split between two different counties, Wiltshire and Somerset. Charles Daubeny wanted people living on the Wiltshire side to attend a new church closer to them. He didn't want them to go to the older church in Rode, which was in Somerset. So, he collected money from people to build this new church.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The design of Christ Church was inspired by a famous building called King's College Chapel, Cambridge. It has a tall main hall, called a nave, and a special area near the altar, called a chancel.
For many years, until 1933, this church was part of a larger church area called North Bradley. Later, it became part of the local church area of Rode.
The Church Bell's Journey
In 1823, a bell was made for the church by a company called Rudhall of Gloucester. But when it arrived, there wasn't enough space for it to swing properly! So, it was only used for static chiming, meaning it rang without swinging.
In 1995, the church was no longer needed for services. It was then sold to private owners. The bell was bought by a group called the Keltek Trust. This group helps find new homes for old church bells. Now, the bell from Christ Church is in a church far away in Menangle, New South Wales, Australia!
From Church to Home
By the 1990s, the church building needed a lot of repairs. In 1993, a decorative stone piece called a corbel even fell inside the church. Because of this, the church couldn't get insurance anymore. There wasn't enough money to fix everything.
After the church was sold, some important repairs were done. The south steeple (a tall pointed tower) and the roof were fixed. This work was helped by a grant from English Heritage, an organization that protects historic buildings.
Today, Christ Church is no longer a place of worship. It has been turned into a house and a shop that sells violins. It is also sometimes used for music concerts.