Christ Church, Southgate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Southgate |
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Christ Church, Southgate, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, as seen from The Walker Ground
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| 51°37′29″N 0°07′41″W / 51.62465°N 0.12797°W | |
| Location | Waterfall Road, Southgate, Middlesex, N14 7EG |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Consecrated | July 17, 1862 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Sir George Gilbert Scott |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Christ Church Southgate |
| Deanery | Enfield |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
Christ Church, Southgate is a Church of England parish church located in Southgate, London. A parish church is a church that serves a specific local area. This church is known for being a "liberal catholic" Church of England parish. This means it has some traditions similar to the Catholic Church but is part of the Church of England.
The building is very important historically, so it is listed as Grade II* listed by Historic England. This means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest. In 2014, the church became an Inclusive Church, which means it welcomes everyone, no matter their background. The church choir is very active, performing regularly and even going on tours. They also sing during Sunday services.
Contents
History of the Church
The story of Christ Church began a long time ago. In 1615, a man named Sir John Weld built a small chapel called the Weld Chapel. Local people used this chapel for their worship.
Building a New Church
By the 1800s, the Weld Chapel was too small and old. A minister named Rev. James Baird, whose family owned the land nearby, saw the need for a new, bigger church. The Walker family, who owned the Arnos Grove estate, generously gave land for the new church.
The famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott designed Christ Church. He was a very well-known architect who designed many important buildings. The church was officially opened and blessed on July 17, 1862, by Bishop John Jackson. The old Weld Chapel was taken down the next year, but its original spot is still marked in the churchyard.
The Church Choir
Christ Church Southgate has a long and proud history of music. When the church first opened, singers from St Paul's Cathedral even joined the choir!
Who is in the Choir?
Originally, the choir was made up of men and boys. Today, it is a mixed choir with both adults and younger members. Many talented musicians have been part of this choir. One famous former member is Martin Neary, who became a well-known organist and choir leader.
The choir sings at the main Sunday service at 10:00 AM and at a special evening service called Choral Evensong at 6:30 PM. They also put on concerts and travel to sing in cathedrals across the UK and Europe.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
The church is home to an amazing collection of stained glass windows. These windows were made by a group of artists called the Pre-Raphaelites and their company, Morris, Marshall Faulkner & Company (later Morris & Co).
Famous Artists' Work
These beautiful windows were created between 1861 and 1913. They include works by very famous artists like Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown, Philip Webb, John Henry Dearle, and even William Morris himself. Other lovely windows were made by Clayton & Bell.
One special window in the church's main area is called the Faith & Hope window. It was designed by Edward Burne-Jones. This window remembers Letitia Catherine Hayes, whose brother was a famous British leader named John Laird Mair Lawrence. The large window at the east end of the church was installed in 1862. It remembers Vincent Figgins Jnr, who continued his father's work as a type-founder (someone who makes printing type).
The Reredos
A reredos is a decorative screen or wall that stands behind the altar in a church. The reredos at Christ Church was put in place in 1868. It is a stunning mosaic created by Antonio Salviati, an artist from Venice, Italy.
This mosaic shows a famous scene called the Last Supper. The design for it was made by John Clayton of Clayton & Bell. It looks almost exactly like another reredos Salviati made for Westminster Abbey a year earlier.
The Walker Family
The Walker family was very important to the Southgate area. Their burial vault, which is like a special underground tomb, is in the churchyard near the west door.
Cricket and Brewing
This vault holds the remains of all seven of the famous Walker brothers, who were well-known cricketers. The churchyard also has the vault of the Taylor family. The Taylor and Walker families together started the Taylor Walker Brewing Company. The Lady Chapel inside the church was decorated in 1905–06 with beautiful wall paintings. These were done by Percy Bacon Brothers to remember Issac and Sophia Walker and their children.
War Memorials
Inside the church, there is a special memorial for the First World War. This memorial was designed by Charles Marriott Oldrid Scott, who was the grandson of the church's architect, George Gilbert Scott.
Remembering Heroes
The memorial lists the names of 146 men from the local area who served in the war. Among them are the two sons of a famous detective, Frederick Porter Wensley. You can find more information about some of these men in a booklet made by the church. The memorial was put in place in 1921.
There is also a French flag hanging in the church. This flag was given to Group Captain Alfred Kitchiner 'Ken' Gatward and the local Royal British Legion branch in 1949. It was a way to remember a brave mission called Operation Squabble.
Gallery
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The Weld Chapel (right) in 1862 during the construction of Christ Church
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Footprint of the Weld Chapel (1615-1861) now a Garden of Remembrance (built 1967)
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Lady Chapel, Christ Church Southgate (reordered 1905) with wall paintings by Percy Bacon Brothers and windows by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company
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The Choir of Christ Church Southgate in 1929
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St Matthew by William Morris (reputedly a self portrait)
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Hope and Faith window by Edward Burne Jones
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The Walker Family Vault
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