St Philip and St James Church, Leckhampton facts for kids
St Philip & St James is a church located in Leckhampton, a part of south Cheltenham, England. It belongs to the Anglican faith, which is a Christian church. For over 150 years, this church has been a place for people to worship. Today, more than 200 people are part of its regular church community.
Contents
History of St Philip & St James Church
How the Church Began
The story of St Philip & St James Church started on May 1, 1840. Back then, it was called St Philip's and was a smaller "daughter church" of St Peter's in Leckhampton. A special priest was chosen to lead the services.
Becoming Its Own Parish
In 1869, St Philip's became its own separate parish. This meant it had its own area and community to serve. The first main priest, called a vicar, was appointed in May of that year.
Building a Bigger Church
Just ten years later, the church was too small. More people were joining the community. So, the current church building, St Philip & St James, was built. Workers built it around the old church, making it bigger and better. This big project took three years to finish.
In May 1882, the new building was officially opened by the Bishop of Gloucester. Interestingly, it did not have a tall spire as planned. The ground was not strong enough to hold such a heavy structure. Instead, in 1903, a special tower with a unique "saddleback" roof was built.
Inside the Church Building
The church is built in a style called Victorian Gothic. This means it has tall arches and detailed stone carvings. Inside, there is a beautiful carved stone screen behind the main altar. There is also a painting in a side chapel showing Jesus having supper with his friends.
Until 2020, the church had old wooden pews, which are long benches for people to sit on. Some of the carved parts from these pews were cleverly used in a new room at the back of the church. The main altar can still be used, but there is also a movable altar closer to the people. The font, where baptisms happen, was recently moved to the back of the church.
The Columbarium and Church Team
In 1963, something very special was built in the church's basement, called the crypt. This was a "columbarium," a place where the ashes of people who have passed away can be kept. It was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom.
By 1982, St Philip & St James had joined with the former St James church. That building is now a pizza restaurant! Today, St Philip & St James is part of a group called the South Cheltenham Team of churches. The main leader of this team is also the vicar for one of the churches.
Modern Changes to the Church
In 2018, the church got permission to update its inside. The old pews were removed. This change allowed the main part of the church to be used for many different activities. However, the area around the main altar was kept in its original, historic style. Construction work for these changes began in January 2020.
Church Community and Worship
Styles of Worship
Worship at St Philip & St James is a mix of traditional and more relaxed styles. The church has a large pipe organ, which is a musical instrument. There is also an adult choir that wears special robes. Sometimes, a music group with acoustic instruments joins in. The sermons, or talks given by the vicar, usually follow a moderate liberal way of thinking. The current vicar is Revd Ruth Edmonds.
