The Parish Church
The construction of Christ Church began in 1848, the foundation stone being laid on 13th November of that year. The church opened one year later with the first service being held by Bishop’s Licence on 20th September 1849, it was consecrated on 23rd October 1851. From the first proposal to completion of the church took 2 ½ years and was without debt, all costs being covered by public subscription.The building is of red sandstone in the Neo Norman style with a slate roof and the inside walls are lined with terracotta tiles.
Internal
redecoration and sympathetic modernisation was completed in 1997
retaining the original box pews. Extensive
roof
repairs have been completed but the spire, removed
because it had become unsafe, was replaced by a saddleback roof in 2005.
The final stage of refurbishment
was completed in 2006, when the pews beneath the gallery were removed
and the floor levelled. In this area a meeting room and a small kitchen has been built. There are glazed
folding doors opening onto the main church. In the base of the tower
toilets have been installed. Access to the gallery is by an oak
staircase from the main church instead of via the outside door of the
tower.
To open the space up in front of
the meeting room the font has been moved from a position opposite the
main door to the corner of the north transept.
From March 2002, the congregation of St.David's in Hale, one of the parish's daughter churches, joined with the congregation of Christ Church following the closure of their building. St.David's had served the southern part of the parish since 1914.
A number of church groups meet in the hall on the junction of Thorley Lane and Mainwood Road including the Sunday School, Association of Church Fellowships and Toddler Group. The hall is also used by other groups and available for lettings. Click for details of :- .Holy Cross
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