Christ Church, Tunstall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 53°3′45.1″N 2°12′39.8″W / 53.062528°N 2.211056°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 859 517 |
| Location | Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 15 March 1993 |
| Architect(s) | Francis Bedford |
| Completed | 1832 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Goldenhill and Tunstall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
Christ Church is a church located in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It belongs to the Church of England, which is a Christian church. This church serves as the main church for the areas of Goldenhill and Tunstall. These two areas joined together to form one church parish in 2010. Christ Church is also recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical structure.
Contents
History of Christ Church
How the Church Was Built
Christ Church is known as a "Commissioners' church." This means it was built with money from the government. After the Napoleonic Wars, the government helped fund new churches. This was because many towns were growing quickly, and more places of worship were needed.
The church was designed by an architect named Francis Octavius Bedford. Construction took place between 1831 and 1832. Most of the money, about £3,000, came from a special grant from the government. The rest, £1,000, was donated by people. The Bishop of Lichfield, Henry Ryder, officially opened the church on August 14, 1832.
Building Materials and Changes
The church was built using stone from a nearby area called Chell. It features tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows are often found in pairs or as single windows.
Originally, the church's tower had a tall, pointed top called an octagonal spire. However, this spire was removed in 1971. It was taken down for safety reasons.
Later, in 1885 and 1886, the church's east end was changed. An architect named A. R. Wood redesigned this part. A larger area for the altar, called a chancel, was created. New rooms were added on the sides for a chapel and an organ. Two small sections, known as transepts, were also built.
The Church Bells
When the church was first built, it had only one bell. In 1856, this single bell was replaced with a set of six bells. This set is called a "peal of bells." Later, in the early 1900s, two more bells were added. This brought the total number of bells to eight.
See also
- Listed buildings in Stoke-on-Trent
- List of Commissioners' churches in the English Midlands
