Church of Christ

The Church of Christ (or more simply Christ’s Church) is the parish church for Christchurch within the diocese of Ely. ^[1] It was built in 1864, after the village (then called Brimstone Hill) became its own parish.

The church is currently registered as a Grade II listed building. ^[2]

Before Church Construction

Christchurch didn’t become its own parish until 1862, and the enactment of the Upwell Cum Welney Rectory Act 1946. Until that point the village (then known as Brimstone Hill – the village’s name change once the church had been constructed) was part of Upwell (and Welney) parish. This necessitated parishioners walking to Upwell to attend services. ^[3]

Services for the village were also held in a barn at Green Lane Farm.

There was also a Methodist congregation in the village before the church’s construction.

Overview

CHRISTCHURCH, at the hamlet of the same name, formerly called Brimstone Hill, (fn. 153) is a red brick structure with stone facings and tiled roofs. It dates from 1862, and is in the style of the mid-13th century with some foreign modifications. It consists of apsidal chancel, north and south chapels used respectively as vestry and organ chamber, transepts, nave, south porch, and boiler-room in the angle between the nave and the north transept. There is a wooden turret at the east end of the nave containing one bell; the original design included a tower on the north side, but this was demolished shortly before 1883 owing to the insecurity of its foundations. (fn. 154) There are oil paintings in the nave representing Christ crowned with thorns, and the Descent from the Cross. The former is a copy of a painting by Holman Hunt. The latter is a copy of a painting by Giuseppe Ribera (Spagnoletto) and was presented by Lt.-Col. E. R. Pratt of Ryston Hall (Norfolk); it was originally brought from Italy by Sir Roger Pratt the architect, a member of this family. (fn. 155) ^[7]

Construction

The Church was designed by Mr. Giles of London and built by Nr. W. Hubbard of Derohan, Norfolk, in the style of the mid thirteenth century, with some foreign modifications. It is a cruciform edifice of red brick with coloured facings and a tiled roof; consisting of chancel, návé, transepts, north and south chapels, used respectively as vestry and organ chamber, south porch and boiler room. There is a wooden turret at the east end of the nave containing one bell; the original design included a tower on the north side, but this was demolished shortly before 1883 owing to the insecurity of the foundations. Insecure foundations is a common Fen problem, because the land is continually shrinking. ^[3]

There is stained glass in the three windows in the apse; this is Victorian glass, probably around 1860 and is of good colour. In the nave there are two oil paintings; Christ Crowned with Thorns, a copy by E. Jacobs (1860) of the original by Holmen Hunt and the Descent from the Cross, a copy of the picture by Spagnoletto at San Martino, Naples. The latter was presented by Lieutenant Colonel E. R. Pratt, of Ryston Hall, Norfolk, and was originally brought from Italy by Sir Roger Pratt the architect, a member of this family. ^[3]

Church, c.1870 in early English style. Red brick with bands of black brick and steeply pitched slate roof with crested ridge tiles and timber bell-cote over crossing. West end has four light window in two centred arch. Nave of two bays, divided by two-stage buttresses, each with two lancets. Bay to the west has gabled brick porch with stone colonettes to outer arch. Gabled north and south chapels and apse chancel. ^[10]

History

“CHRISTCHURCH is an ecclesiastical parish is the Isle of Ely and rural deanery of March, 4 miles south from the mother church and 3 north-east from Stonea station on the March and Ely section of the London and North Eastern railway: the church is a cruciform edifice of brick, with coloured facings, consisting of chancel, nave, transepts, south porch and a turret containing one bell: there are three stained windows, and the church affords 400 sittings. The register dates from the year 1866.” ^[9]

[Kelly’s Directory – Cambridgeshire – 1929]

Church temporarily closed in 2022 after part of the ceiling collapsed during a funeral. ^[11]

List of Rectors

1862 – 1889	Reverend George Metcalf M.A.
1889 – 1912	Reverend Charles F. Townley (Lord of the manor of Upwell)
1912 – 1917	Reverend the Honourable Grey Neville
1917 – 1928	Reverend Henry Sayers
1928 – 1947	Reverend Seinol Evan
1948 – 1953	Reverend Penny
1954 – 1960	Reverend Hurdle
1961 – 1966	Reverend Rodgers
1968 –	Reverend Dodgson

Records

Records of banns are still held at the church from its inception. The records for baptisms 1863-1947, marriages 1865-2002, banns 1889-2002 and burials 1865-1947 reside in the Cambridgeshire Archives. The current records, beyond these dates, are still held at the church as well as banns to 1889. ^[9]

War Memorials

The memorial is in Christchurch churchyard. Church Road, Christchurch and takes the form of a white marble celtic cross on tapering octagonal column with octagonal base and stepped plinth. There are twenty-four names listed for World War 1 and six for World War 2. The memorial cost £170 originally and was unveiled 20 February 1920; it was manufactured by Messrs W & AV Davis, Wisbech. A report on the unveiling and dedication appeared in the Wisbech Standard, 25 February 1920, page 6. ^[4]

Excerpt taken from: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Christchurch.html

Details on the individual soldiers can also be found on the above site.

A few war graves are also listed here: ^[6]

https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/search?location=christchurch%2C+cambridgeshire&radius=1

There are two commonwealth war graves in the churchyard. ^[5]

The war memorial was designated as a Grade II Listed building 31 October 1983. ^[8]