Mid 1830’s

If you had stood on this spot in the mid 1830’s you would have been standing in a field.  The Andrews and Dury map of 1773 (extract above) shows buildings to the east and west.

Fascinatingly it is thought that the wildflowers and fine grasses found in the churchyard during Covid by local botanist David Green, are likely to reflect the meadow that was here before the church.  It is amazing to think that the wildflowers and grasses we see and enjoy today are most likely descendants of the plants that were here in the early 1800’s.  When planting trees to the north of the church we found stone, slates and bits of metal as well as coal and ash.  It is thought that this may well have been used as the builders yard during construction of the church, as well as the area across which ash was scattered in the days of a coal heating system.

For more information please see our Archaeology report.

1839-1841

Originally built as a ‘Chapel of Ease’ to serve the expanding population on the hill above the town centre, Christ Church served residents of the surrounding area. It was easier to come here rather than going down the steep hill to Holy Trinity Church. Designed by Bath architect GP Manners of Bath Stone and in the Perpendicular Gothic style, the building of the church cost of £3,862 which was raised by subscription. If you had visited in 1841 you would have found a light filled, simply decorated rectangular space with stone-flagged floor, box pews, a pulpit along the north wall, galleries above and clear glass windows.

1843

Christ Church’s tall and slender spire located at the highest point in town can be seen from miles around and was added at a cost of £191. Twenty years later the clock was installed.

1846

The Mount Pleasant Centre was the original Christ Church school building. The site was developed c.1846 through the donation made by Captain Septimum Palairet.

1857

Made by William Warrington, this has the most vivid colours of all the windows, and is the oldest remaining stained glass window in the church.

The Warrington window in memory of Septimus Palairet, shows the typically hot palette of 1857 is an early example of fired glass being used to give these vivid colours.

1863

The total cost of the clock was £175 which was raised by subscriptions.

Unfortunately the original Victorian clock along with its’ Westminster’ chimes were removed at some point and replaced with an electronic mechanism.

1876-1878

This was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, whose other works include St.Pancras Station. What can you see in the chancel?

1878

In 1878, Miss Poynder donated land east of the existing block at the old school and paid for Social Club building which was the Infant school. The toilet block in the middle is thought to have been built at the same time.

1881

This was carried out by Burlison & Grylls under the direction of J.O. Scott (son of Sir George Scott) and much of this decoration still remains.

1917

Offered in 1917 by Elizabeth Moulton of The Hall, Bradford on Avon, and designed by surveyor Ponting Diocesan, the Lady Chapel is dedicated to the memory of her son Lt C.E. Moulton.

1923

Hidden away in the tower, Christ Church originally had just one bell, and an organ once occupied what is now the ringing chamber above the West Door. 1923 saw the addition of a peal of 8 bells in the key of G, made by Gillett and Johnston of Croyden and presented by Brig. Gen. LI Palmer and his wife.

1926

Gower and Stephens of Trowbridge repainted part of the Nave walls with a red/black border and a light/dark blue border. Can you spot this in the building?

1952

Putting it in the top 9% of listed buildings in the country. Nave and west tower by G.P. Manners, 1839-41. New east end by Sir George Gilbert Scott, 1877-8, with internal fittings after 1878 by his son J.O. Scott. South-east chapel by C.E. Ponting, 1919.  Principle features include the ‘Exceptionally complete Late Victorian and Edwardian fittings that are virtually unchanged since 1926’ with Burlison & Grylls wall paintings 1881 & 1884, ‘fine oak pulpit’ with ‘crisp and opulent carving by Harry Hems’, oak eagle lectern by Sir C G Gilbert Scott and the stained-glass windows.  Also highlighted are the gothic design former Christ Church School buildings next door and the (pollarded) lime trees lining the churchyard paths (planted 1841).

1982

By 1981, the number of children on the attendance roll had fallen and Christ Church Junior School and Berryfield Park Infants School were amalgamated to become Christchurch Primary School.

The former School became the Mount Pleasant Community Centre.

1988-2000

Dorna Daw co-ordinated a group of 44 embroiderers to make 222 bespoke kneelers for the church. These are much loved by the congregation, the school and the community. They are still in use today, and some can been seen on display in the bespoke oak shelving in the Nave.

2004-2005

The wall paintings in the chancel, choir and on the east wall of the nave were cleaned and conserved during the winter of 2004/5.  Dry surface cleaning methods were used, areas of paint flaking and detached plaster were consolidated, and passages of lost paint were retouched and reconstructed.  As this was the first time these paintings had been treated, the scale of intervention was kept to an appropriate minimum.  During the work traces of earlier painted texts were found between the choir and chancel.  These predate the Sir George Gilbert Scott extension of 1878.

2008

The interior of the church was used for a scene in the film, Creation, starring Paul Bettany as Charles Darwin.

April 2023 - April 2026

Following community consultation that began in 2019, successful grant applications were made to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, the Pilgrim Trust and ChurchCare plus Bradford on Avon Town Council and community contributions. These raised about £260,000 for an integrated program of inclusive and intergenerational activities and events intertwined with a program of conservation works to restore key heritage elements of Christ Church to their former glory.

In April 2023 staff were appointed and the Discover Christ Church! project started its work in earnest.

Crucial to the success of the project is the involvement of interested volunteers, without whom the program of community activities would not have been possible. Thank you to all of you!

October 2023

Smith of Derby restored and restarted our landmark spire clock, Wiltshire Steeplejacks repaired the stonework, and Wiltshire Stonemasons re-carved two intricate pinnacle stones. Made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust and community donations. The clock restarted on 12th October 2023 at 12 noon.

2023-25

300+ primary school students plus staff and a team of volunteers have added significantly to the wildlife value of the churchyard, and enhanced its beauty by planting c. 2500 native bulbs including daffodils, snowdrops and English bluebells plus 10 woodland edge trees and 9 native type roses. The Ark toddler group also planted wildflower seeds close to the West Door, while Bradford on Avon Youth constructed and installed a bug hotel totem.

Following a survey undertaken by Year 5 students with volunteers from Climate Friendly Bradford and the Preservation Trust, a Biodiversity Management Plan has been agreed. The Town Council has changed its mowing regime to reduce the cutting in some areas to ensure that the floriforous meadow species to the south of the church can flourish and the newly planted bulbs can thrive. As a result of the reduced mowing colonies of orchids were discovered in summer 2024.

Interesting fact: Local botanist Dave Green kindly undertook a survey of the churchyard during the Covid pandemic. He said "The (plant) list is very diverse for an urban churchyard, with a few species more usually seen in good quality downlands. This is most likely the result of the original diversity of the pasture that existed here when the Church was built and the churchyard instigated'.

Its a fascinating thought that these flowers and grasses have grown, flowered, seeded and repeat for nearly 200 years!

April 2024

AJ Electrics of Castle Vale replaced the broken and inflexible lighting with an adjustable and energy efficient lighting system that highlights Christ Church’s beautiful and important heritage features. Made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

2025 January - April

The nave walls were restored to their former glory! Peter Martindale Conservation painstakingly cleaned and conserved the north, south and west nave walls including the three magnificent archangels high up above the tower arch, and the stonework surrounding the stained glass windows. 

Two areas of 1970’s paint were removed providing ‘windows on the past’ -showing a samples of the previous schemes of painting that adorned the nave walls.

A century or so of dirt and mildew was removed from the stained glass windows making their details and design shine out and allowing significantly more natural light into the nave.

The whole appearance of the church has been lifted, it is so much lighter and brighter with its heritage features once again shining out.

‘Open House’ was maintained throughout, welcoming people in to see the conservators at work high up on the scaffolding, plus close up film footage of the techniques used being displayed on a screen at ground level.

For more information and some film clips please visit the news section.

September 2025

Works at the former school toilet block include removal and restoration of the old roof, creating more space for storage for the Mount Pleasant Centre and Social Club.

May - October 2025

After many years of fundraising and lots of hard work, Christ Church finally has a kitchen, toilet, storage and office space added as part of the Future for Christ Church Project. Pews are removed to make a larger space for community activities and the church is finally a place that can be used more widely.

November 2025

Bishop Andrew blesses the church and the new facilities during a special celebration service.