Wolverhampton: Christ Church
Overview
Grid reference: SO 913 998
The church is built of rough-faced sandstone laid in regular courses, with tappings and dressings of smooth faced stone. The roofs are slated. The church has no tower or spire, merely an open timber bell-cage at the west end of the nave roof, end the silhouette is low and unremarkable. The nave and aisles are divided externally into six bays by buttresses and raised wall strips.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, aisles, chancel, south chapel and eastern vestry buildings.
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1868.
Exterior Description
The church is built of rough-faced sandstone laid in regular courses, with tappings and dressings of smooth faced stone. The roofs are slated. The church has no tower or spire, merely an open timber bell-cage at the west end of the nave roof, end the silhouette is low and unremarkable. The nave and aisles are divided externally into six bays by buttresses and raised wall strips. On the north side the westernmost bay is filled by a doorway with a moulded arch and twin attached shafts. The remaining bays of the aisle wall have three-light windows with Geometrical tracery, and the clerestory windows consist of triple openings set within segmental-sided triangles. The south elevation of the nave is similar except that the large plain porch in the second bay from the west also occupies parts of the adjoining bays, necessitating the use of two light windows in them.
The chancel is completely encircled at ground floor level by low vestry buildings with plain rectangular windows, many of them blocked. Adjacent to the south east corner of the chancel is a small chapel with a polygonal end and a large blind western gable, the latter givin the chapel the air of having been truncated. The chancel extends for three clear bays east of the chapel and has two-light windows. In the east wall is a five light window with a four centred head filled with Geometrical tracery. Below the window is a band of blind arcading and in the centre of the arcading is a small pinnacled canopy
Interior
Interior Description
Internally there is a nave arcade of five bays of equilateral arches on quatrefoil piers with moulded capitals. The arches are banded with stone of contrasting colours. There is no string or other division between the nave arcades and the clerestory windows. Immediately above clerestory level are the wall plates of the plain pitched timber roof. The aisles have lean-to roofs which are additionally braced from the piers of the arcades. The chancel arch is of greater depth than is usual and has an ornamental soffit, a strange feature in a Gothic pointed arch. The side walls of the chancel are faced with ashlar masonry, unlike the other wall surfaces in the building which are plastered. Ringed wall shafts run from the chancel floor to the roof and between them; just below window level, are a series of large mural paintings. On the east wall only there is a second tier of smaller paintings above the first; thus forming a kind of reredos. The roof of the chancel is of quasi-hammerbeam construction with the addition of tie-beams, and the spaces between the principal ribs are boarded in.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
A large rectangular pulpit with chamfered corners. The vertical members of the tiers of panelling are carried down to form the legs. There is a plain hexagonal tester.
Organ (object)
1856
Two-manual 1856 by Walker.
Screen
The wooden screen consists of a wide central bay with two doors and three further narrower bays on each side. The low base section of the screen is filled with linenfold panelling, and the head of each of the side bays is filled with interlace tracery over a cusped ogee arch. Above the heavy cornice beam is a Rood and attendant figures.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 913 998
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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