Sparkbrook: Christ Church
Overview
Grid reference: SP 87 850
The church was built in 1867 to designs by Medland, Maberley & Medland, a firm of Architects based in Gloucester. The chancel is much lower than the nave, with a distinct separate pitched roof. However it is the aisles which add particular interest to the whole; a small section of roof leans against the nave but otherwise they consist of six cross-gabled bays, giving an unusual and attractive effect.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave, chancel, west tower, north porch. West end conversion of nave.
Dimensions:
The nave is approximately 36m (119ft) x 10m (32ft)
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1867 to designs by Medland, Maberley & Medland. A firm of Architects based in Gloucester. Following bomb damage in the Second World War the spire of the tower was removed. In 1954 a baptistery was created at the west end and a screen from another bomb damaged church (St Asaph’s) installed as an entrance vestibule.
In 1985 a major scheme converted the western half of the building into an open hall with ancillary rooms in the north aisle which was blocked in. The screen from St Asaph’s was moved to the centre of the church where it divided the worship area from the facilities at the rear.
Exterior Description
Christ Church is an imposing building, not least because of the length and height of the nave which is steeply pitched. The chancel is much lower with a distinct separate pitched roof. However it is the aisles which add particular interest to the whole; a small section of roof leans against the nave but otherwise they consist of six cross-gabled bays, giving an unusual and attractive effect.
The tower occupies the seventh and westernmost bay of the south aisle and has large angle buttresses. In the first stage there is a single lancet window to the west and an arched doorway to the south. The first stage is tall and the second has only slit openings to each face. Above this at the belfry stage there are arched louvred openings of two cusped lights and a small roundel over. The rather plain parapet highlights the truncated nature of the tower; the broach spire was removed after the Second World War.
The west end of the north aisle has a geometric window with two cusped lights and a quatrefoil roundel over. The west window in the nave is geometric in style and has four equal cusped lights and three large cinquefoil roundels above. Below the window there is a slight ramp to the west door. This is a large cusped shape door with the same detailing as seen in the porch.
On the north side, a porch occupies the second bay from the west and forms a larger gable extending to the north. The porch has an arched entrance with no door which is decorated with triple columns with foliate capitals and carved headstops to the hoodmould. On either side of the porch there is a pair of arched openings with the same detailing as the doorway.
Each bay of the aisles has a three light window under a pointed arch; the lights are cusped but from one window to the next the tracery alternates between a geometric style with roundels containing quatrefoils to a looser curvilinear style with ogees and mouchettes. Small clerestorey trefoil openings are just visible behind the gables.
At the east end of the north aisle there is a small transept-style addition with a short pitched roof housing the organ. There is a roundel to the north with a further three small quatrefoil roundels inside it. At a low level there is evidence of two blocked lancets. These are partly obscured by the small lean-to which houses the organ blower. The vestry adjoins this small transept to the east and has a lean-to roof with a modern tall chimney. It has a blocked lancet to the north in line with the two mentioned above and a shouldered door to the east.
There are no openings to the north side of the chancel but two tall lancets to the south side. The east window is geometric in style and has five equal cusped lights with a large central roundel with quatrefoils and two smaller cinquefoil roundels to either side.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century aisled
Chancel
19th century
Tower (component)
19th century west
Porch
19th century north
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century walls
Limestone
19th century dressings
Clay
19th century plain roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside the church, there is an impression of space and scale. The nave is of seven bays; the arcading is widely spaced with pointed arches, plain columns and nicely carved capitals. There is a clerestorey of trefoil openings in triangular headed arches with two lights over each bay.
The west end, all too familiarly in large Victorian buildings such as this, resembles a well worn church hall. The western four bays are divided from the nave by means of partition walls in the aisles. The south aisle is clear space with a large open kitchen and servery occupying the second bay from the west. The base of the tower occupies the westernmost bay and has no arcade; a toilet block has been installed in the southern half of the nave against the tower wall.
In the north aisle the westernmost bay (previously the choir vestry) is a storage room with access from the vestibule. The next bay is the vestibule from the porch and the main entrance into the building. The last two bays have been partitioned to create meeting room space. Overall, the character of the western conversion is shabby and dated.
A screen from St Asaph’s demarcates the change from hall to worship space and was relocated here in the reordering of 1985. The nave proper retains pews in the aisles and at the rear of the worship space. At the front, the floor has recently been raised, boarded and carpeted with chairs brought in to replace the removed pews. The pulpit and font stand close together in an unhappy arrangement to the north of the chancel arch. A small chapel has been arranged in the south aisle adjacent to the memorial window.
The organ chamber is to the north of the chancel and the pipes and casework project forward from an arch into the chancel. There is an arched opening from the organ chamber to the north aisle and this has three ‘lights’ filled with decorative wooden tracery work of quatrefoils.
The chancel, although housing debris from the storm, shows more character than the nave. The floors here are tiled and the sanctuary has an elaborately carved arcaded reredos. A small vestry is located to the north.
The interior of the building is a strange mixture of blandness with flashes of detail. The reredos and lectern are carved in detail as are the angel corbels and capitals. The latter are individually carved, with varying designs and one has the added touch of a small bird amongst the foliage. The aisle roofs are also interesting. As each bay has an individual gable and pitched roof this means internally that there are small mini-roof sections per bay. This has a pleasant effect as well as serving as a contrast against the vast scale of the nave. These embellishments seem to be at odds with the overall ordinariness of the design of the building.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century A simple oak table with minimal decorative carving.
Reredos
19th century A stone carved blind arcade of nine equal bays - each a steeply pointed arch with much decorative carved foliate detail.
Pulpit
19th century Large stone pulpit with carved relief panels depicting scenes from the Gospels. Rather heavy but with reasonable detail. The panels set back beneath an arcade of cusped arches and miniature marble style columns with foliate carved capitals. Foliate detailing continued in a band around the top of the pulpit.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle lectern with rotating stand. Given by James and Emma Moffat in 1897.
Font (component)
19th century Round bowl and stem font with four sturdy marble style columns (with foliate capitals) around a central shaft.
Stained Glass
20th century • East window: A replacement by John Hardman Studios in 1955 following bomb damage to the original. Central panel Resurrection and other scenes including the Prodigal Son and the Last Supper. • West window: Another replacement window by Hardman portraying Christ in the Temple. • South nave: A World War I memorial window by Florence Camm
Organ (component)
19th century Three manual pipe organ by Bishops of London.
Rail
19th century Tripartite hinged wooden rail, supported on scrolled wrought-iron stanchions in a decorative floral and leaf design.
Plaque (component)
20th century • World War I and II in the south aisle. • In the north porch a stone memorial recording four names of men from White Road who died in World War II. • In the south aisle, adjacent to the memorial window, a large wooden roll call listing those who died in World War I. • Smaller metal plaque with roll call listing those who died in World War II.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 87 850
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 | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
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
Sources
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