Christ Church North Finchley facts for kids
Christ Church North Finchley is a special kind of Church of England church. It's an evangelical church located at 620 High Road in North Finchley, London. This church is a lively Christian community in North London. People from many different backgrounds and countries come together here. They share a strong belief in Jesus Christ, who they believe shows people what God is like through the Bible. They also believe Jesus is active in the world today.
Contents
The Story of Christ Church
How Christ Church Began
The first leader of Christ Church was a man named Henry Stephens. He was born in Liverpool. In 1864, he came to North Finchley. He was a missionary, which means he wanted to share his Christian beliefs with the local people. He especially wanted to reach the many railway workers who had recently moved to the area because of the new railway. Henry Stephens often preached, or shared his message, outdoors.
Building the Church and Schools
Reverend Stephens was in charge of building the church you see today. Construction started in 1867. He also helped start Christ Church school, which is now called Wren Academy. And he founded another nearby church, St Barnabas church. Inside the church, there's a special plaque that talks about Henry Stephens. It says he always cared about the spiritual well-being of the people he served. It also says he lived and preached about Jesus Christ. This idea, that the message of Jesus is what people need most, is still very important to Christ Church today.
A Global Connection
Dr. Catherine Ironside was a member of Christ Church. She left her life in Finchley to become a missionary doctor. She traveled to Esfahan, Iran, to help people there. Sadly, she passed away in 1922 during a big flu outbreak. To remember her, the church had a special cover carved for its font. A font is a basin used for baptisms. The carving looks like the beautiful art style from Esfahan. This carving has a Star of David, which reminds people that Jesus is believed to be the Jewish Messiah. The Persian wood carving shows that the message of Jesus is meant for people everywhere, no matter their country. Christ Church has always supported missionaries around the world. Today, the church has many members from different countries, making it a very diverse community.
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