Gailey: Christ Church
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 912 106
The church is characterised by steep roofs and thin trefoiled lancets. The slopes of the nave roof are varied by bands of fish-scale tiles and a similar repeating pattern. Two lancets in the west wall are divided by a central buttress which eventually widens by stepped corbelling to support a steeply gabled bell-cote. The north and south walls of the nave are divided into bays by thin off-set buttresses and each bay has a pair of trefoiled lancets. The pattern is broken on the south by a porch near the west end. The transepts are very shallow and have triple stepped lancets in the gabled walls.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with west boll-cote, south porch and transepts; chancel with small south organ chamber and north vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built to the designs of G.T. Robinson of Wolverhampton in 1849-51. The chancel was added by J. Fowler in 1875-6.
Exterior Description
The church is characterised by steep roofs and thin trefoiled lancets. The slopes of the nave roof are varied by bands of fish-scale tiles and a similar repeating pattern. Two lancets in the west wall are divided by a central buttress which eventually widens by stepped corbelling to support a steeply gabled bell-cote. The north and south walls of the nave are divided into bays by thin off-set buttresses and each bay has a pair of trefoiled lancets. The pattern is broken on the south by a porch near the west end. The transepts are very shallow and have triple stepped lancets in the gabled walls.
The stonework of the chancel is more refined; Fowler used, moreover, a later style of architecture, with more sophisticated mouldings and Geometric tracery in the east window, which has moulded tracery members and a hood-mould. The organ chamber on the south side is a small projection unde: a pent roof, but the vestry on the north stands under its own gable with paired trefoiled lancets of slightly different proportions from those used by Robinson in the nave.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The east window is by Kempe and Tower. The three lights represent The Blessed Virgin Mary, The Crucified Christ and St. John.
Stained Glass
The chancel south window has two small lights with St. Peter and St. Paul.
Stained Glass
The north transept has a three-light window with Charity, The Good Shepherd and Faith under elaborate canopy work.
Stained Glass
Scuth nave I: single lancet with very attractive recent glass in memory of the Rowlands family
Stained Glass
c.1970
South nave II : Two lancets, possibly by Clayton and Bell. The Virgin Mary and St. John.
Stained Glass
c.1911
Nave north: two lancets by the same firm as the north transept window, that is probably Powell's, St. Luke and St. John
Interior
Interior Description
Most of the windows have stained glass but some on the south side are filled with clear glass which admits as much light as may be expected from narrow lancets. The chancel is rather dark because the flanking vestry and organ chamber only allow for a single window on the south side in the sanctuary and no windows at all on the north side. The roofs of nave and chancel are quite simple, both with closely spaced timbers against a white plaster background.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
1893
The pulpit dates from 1893, in wood, with Perpendicular traceried panels and a vine-trail round the top.
Font (object)
The font is a plain octagon of dumpy proportions.
Font (component)
The flat wooden cover has a brass foliated cross with a ring handle in the middle.
Organ (object)
The organ is Bevington, and has one manual and tracker action.
Reredos
The reredos is in a heavy Jacobean frame, with some original woodwork and some imitative. The central tabernacle has a Flemish carving of The Annunciation and the flanking panels show The Crucifixion and The Resurrection.
Lectern
Late 19th Century
The lectern is a wooden eagle, late nineteenth-century.
Rail
The altar rails are a tough design, all of wood with a toprail carried on short pillars.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 912 106
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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