Christ Church, Bath
| Christ Church, Bath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| OS grid reference | ST7465 |
| Location | Julian Road, Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.christchurchbath.org |
| History | |
| Dedication | Christ Church |
| Dedicated | November 7th, 1798 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | John Palmer |
| Style | neo-Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bath stone |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Bath |
| Archdeaconry | Bath |
| Diocese | Bath and Wells |
| Province | Canterbury |
Christ Church, Bath is a proprietary chapel on Julian Road, Bath, England.
History and organisation
The church was founded by socially concerned clergy and lay people for those excluded from worship through the system of pew rents. It was probably the first church, at that time, to provide seating free of charge. Early supporters included the Archbishop of Canterbury, the great evangelical and campaigner against slavery, William Wilberforce and Martin Stafford Smith, godfather of John Keble, a founder of the Oxford Movement.
Christ Church is part of the Bath and Wells Diocese, and the clergy of the church work on a non-stipendiary basis. Because of this, it has had a large number of incumbents in its 200-year history. In recent decades many students at the University of Bath have worshipped at Christ Church. Preb. Angela Berners-Wilson is currently one of the assistant priests at the church.
The building
The building was designed by John Palmer, one of the principal architects working in Georgian Bath, and built in 1798.[1] It is in a neo-Gothic style, but Classically proportioned, with north and south aisles and a gallery on three sides. Stained glass on the south side of the gallery is by A. O. Hemming and depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The two windows at the west end are by James Powell and Sons and show Christ in Majesty and the raising of the daughter of Jairus. There are nine lancet windows in the apse, and the windows in the main body of the church contain individual saints, angels and biblical characters, themed around the Te Deum Laudamus. Other interior furnishings include an unusual wooden altarpiece. The apse was added in 1865-6 by John Elkington Gill, whose firm undertook much later work on the church.[2] A recast peal of bells was hung in the church tower in 2015.[3][4]
Music
The first organ was provided in 1800 by John Avery.
In June 2003 David Briggs gave the inaugural recital on the three-manual organ after it was rebuilt by Deane's organ builders of Taunton. The church choir sings at the main Sunday morning service each week, at choral evensong each month, and at occasional special services. Christ Church is sometimes used as a concert venue in the Bath International Music Festival and in recent years Joanna MacGregor, the Hilliard Ensemble and Exaudi have performed there.
References
- ↑ John Henry and Fryden Brabner. "Bath". The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales, 1894-5.
- ↑ Forsyth, Michael (2003), Pevsner Architectural Guides: Bath, Yale University Press, p. 243
- ↑ "Bells Restoration Project". Christ Church, Bath. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ↑ Wiltshire, Paul (29 April 2014). "Let the bells ring again . . . Christ Church in Bath sounds out £110,000 appeal". Bath Chronicle. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
External links
- Website
- Photographs of the church, including several of the interior
- Image of the south-west corner
- An aerial view of the church and its surroundings
- Entry in A Church Near You
- Listed building status
- History and specifications of the organ
Coordinates: 51°23′13″N 2°21′43″W / 51.387°N 2.362°W