Adlington: Christ Church
Overview
Grid reference: SD 601 131
Christ Church is a simple building in a style typical of the Commissioners churches of this period which would be a minimal Early English were it not for the fact that the tall narrow windows have round heads. The general impression is of a neat trim building of little architectural pretension.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Simply a rectangle with a shallow recess at the east end for a chancel and a low square tower at the west end.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was designed by Edward Welch (1806-1868), a pupil of John Oates of Halifax and later partner of Joseph Aloysius Hanson. They established themselves first in York and then in Liverpool. Birmingham Town Hall bankrupted them in 1834 and after that they parted, Welch to practice in Liverpool where he remained from 1837 to 1849.
Christ Church Adlington was built in 1839 and cost £1,560 to which the Commissioners contributed £400 from the second parliamentary grant.
Exterior Description
Christ Church is a simple building in a style typical of the Commissioners churches of this period which would be a minimal Early English were it not for the fact that the tall narrow windows have round heads. In the side walls there is one of those windows to each of the six bays, and the bays are divided from one another by tall narrow buttresses. Similar windows appear in the west wall at each side of the tower, and again in the north and south walls of the lower stage of the tower itself. In the west face of this stage is a doorway, also with a round head but of broader proportions than the windows. The upper stage of the tower is set back from the lower by a broad weathering and has two small round headed windows in each of the three exposed faces, the windows set within recessed panels with corbel tables at the head. Above this are the lower courses of an octagonal stage which has evidently been removed. At the east end of the building a small projection houses the sanctuary, with a group of three round-headed lancets in the middle of the wall and single lancete separately at each side showing that there are small rooms each side of the chancel. That on the south is provided with an external doorway. The general impression is of a neat trim building of little architectural pretension.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior survives in almost its original state, with timber galleries with panelled fronts round three sides approached by stairs at the west and with turned balusters and supported on iron columns. These cut across the tall windows in the north-south and west walls. The wall surfaces are plastered and the roof is constructed of timber with a tie-beam at each bay supporting queen posts and struts. At the west end a round-headed doorway communicates with the porch and at the east end is a semi-circular chancel arch with smaller arches on each side which open into the rooms at each side of the chancel; all these arches are quite undecorated except by a plain chamfer. The floors are of wooden blocks laid in herringbone pattern, and a later re-arrangement of the chancel has provided a pulpit at one side of the chancel arch and a stall at the other. Steps were also inserted which raised the floor disproportionately high in relation to the sills of the past windows.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
The pulpit is made up of simple Gothic panelling arranged in a rectangle with canted corners.
Font (object)
The font is hexagonal with a quatrefoil in each face of the bowl and a plain hexagonal stem and oak cover.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 601 131
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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