Christ Church, Weston Point facts for kids
Christ Church is an old church building in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It used to be a church for the Anglican faith, but it's not used for services anymore. It's a special building because it's listed as a Grade II building, which means it's important for its history and architecture.
Quick facts for kids Christ Church, Weston Point |
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Christ Church, Weston Point
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| 53°19′43″N 2°45′40″W / 53.3287°N 2.7610°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 494,815 |
| Location | Weston Point, Runcorn, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 21 December 1841 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 5 April 1990 |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Sharpe |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1841 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 95 feet (29.0 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone |
Contents
History of Christ Church
Why the Church Was Built
Around 1720, people started making the River Weaver better for boats. This helped transport salt from mines in Cheshire to the River Mersey. This new waterway was called the Weaver Navigation.
In 1839, the people who managed the Weaver Navigation received a request from their workers. The workers wanted to have Sundays off to rest and go to church. Laws already said that boat workers shouldn't have to work on Sundays.
So, on August 12, 1839, the managers made a rule. It said no boats could travel on the Navigation between Saturday midnight and Sunday midnight. A year later, a special law was passed. It allowed the managers to use some money to build churches for their employees.
Christ Church, Weston Point, was one of these churches. Two other churches were built for workers in Northwich and Winsford. The same architect, Edmund Sharpe from Lancaster, designed all three churches.
Building and Changes
The first stone of Christ Church was laid by Sir Richard Brooke. The church was officially opened on December 21, 1841. This ceremony was led by Bishop John Bird Sumner. The church could hold about 400 people. The stone used to build it was given by John Tomkinson from a nearby quarry.
In 1898, the church's tall spire had to be rebuilt after a fire.
When the church was first built, it stood on a piece of land sticking out into the River Mersey. But then, the Manchester Ship Canal was built on one side. The Runcorn and Weston Canal was built on the other side. This left the church on what looked like an island! For a while, it was said to be the only church in Britain on an uninhabited island that was still in use.
Current Status
On June 1, 1995, the church was no longer used for services. In 2002, the inside of the church was damaged, and many of its old fittings were taken.
Since June 10, 2004, the building has been allowed to be used as an office or for storage. It is also seen as a historical monument. Today, the church is inside the Port of Weston area. This means the public cannot visit it. The land where the church stands is owned by the Stobart Group of companies.
Architecture of Christ Church
Building Style and Shape
Christ Church is built from local sandstone. It is designed in a style called Geometric Gothic. This style was popular in the 1800s and looks like older Gothic churches.
The church has a cruciform (cross-shaped) layout. It has a main hall called a nave with four sections. There's a smaller area at the east end called a chancel. On the north and south sides, there are two side sections called transepts. There's also a small porch at the southwest.
The Tower and Spire
At the west end of the church is a tall tower with a pointed roof called a broach spire. The tower has three levels and stands about 95 feet (29 meters) tall. It is supported by strong angled walls called buttresses.
Each level of the tower is separated by stone lines called string courses. The bottom level has blocked up decorative shapes and small windows. The middle level has more small windows. The top level has openings for bells on each side, and a clock on the south side.
The spire is eight-sided and has three rows of small, gabled windows called lucarnes. At the very top, there's a decorative stone carving called a finial and a cross.
Windows and Details
At the east end of the church, there's a large window with three sections and decorative stone patterns called tracery. Each section of the nave has a double lancet window, which is a tall, narrow window. The transepts have two-light windows on their east and west sides. In their gables (the triangular part of the wall), they have a three-light window with a smaller trefoil window above it.
At the base of the tower, there's a small room called a vestry. Stone crosses used to be on the north, south, and east ends of the roof. Now, only the north and south crosses remain.
The church floor is made of Yorkshire stone. This stone was brought to the church site by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The church bell was made in 1842 by Thomas Mears.
The church stands in a rectangular area. It is surrounded by a fence made of spiked wrought iron railings. On the south side, there is a pair of gates.
See also
- Listed buildings in Runcorn (urban area)
- List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
