Christ Church Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cambridge |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative Evangelical |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
Christ Church Cambridge is a Church of England church located in the center of Cambridge, UK. It's a place where people gather for worship and community activities.
The church follows a specific Christian tradition called Conservative Evangelical. This means they focus on the Bible's teachings. As of 2025, the main leader, called the vicar, is Rev. David Todd. Christ Church started in 2004 as a "grafting" project from another church, St Andrew the Great. About 100 adults and children moved to start this new church with Rev. Steve Midgley.
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What Happens at Christ Church?
The church holds public services every Sunday. You can attend at 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and 5:00 PM. Every other week, there's also a more traditional service at 3:00 PM.
- During the morning services, there are special Sunday school groups for children.
- Many smaller group meetings also take place throughout the week. These groups help people connect and learn more about their faith.
A Look at Christ Church's History
The Old Abbey Church
Before Christ Church, there was a smaller church called the Abbey Church. It was also known as St Andrew the Less. This church was built around the early 1200s by monks from a nearby place called Barnwell Priory. It was meant for the people living in the village of Barnwell.
In 1731, a big fire happened in Barnwell. Out of 50 houses, only the Abbey Church and six homes survived.
Building Christ Church
Christ Church was officially opened by Bishop Joseph Allen on June 27, 1839. It cost about £3,800 to build. A man named Charles Perry, who was very keen on spreading Christian messages, donated £200. He later became the first Archbishop of Melbourne in Australia.
Christ Church was built in the same area as the old Abbey Church. When Christ Church was finished, the Abbey Church stopped being used for regular services. So, Christ Church became the main church for the area. This was made official in 1846.
The inside of Christ Church is quite large: 58 feet wide, 87 feet long, and 44 feet high. Unlike most churches that face east, Christ Church faces south. Beautiful stained glass windows were added in 1885. The cover for the font (a basin used for baptisms) was a gift from the Sunday school children.
The church building has been updated and repaired a few times, in 1973 and again in 2013.
Christ Church Today
Christ Church continues to follow the Conservative Evangelical traditions of the Church of England. This means they have certain beliefs about how the church should be run and who can be leaders. For example, they follow specific traditions about who can lead services or hold important roles.
The church also helps the community. It is part of the Besom volunteer network in Cambridge. It also works with the Cambridge Churches Homeless Project, which helps people who don't have homes.
