Christ Church, Bath
Encyclopedia
Christ Church, Bath is a proprietary chapel
on Julian Road, Bath, England.
and Martin Stafford Smith, godfather of John Keble
, a founder of the Oxford Movement
.
Christ Church is part of the Bath and Wells Diocese, and the clergy of the church work on a non-stipendiary
basis. Because of this, it has had a large number of incumbents in its 200-year history. In recent decades many students at the University of Bath
have worshipped at Christ Church.
, one of the principal architects working in Georgian Bath, and built in 1798. It is in a neo-Gothic style, but Classically proportioned, with north and south aisles and a gallery on three sides. Stained glass on the south side of the gallery is by A. O. Hemming and depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd
and the Parable of the Good Samaritan
. The two windows at the west end are by James Powell and Sons
and show Christ in Majesty and the raising of the daughter of Jairus
. There are nine lancet windows in the apse, and the windows in the main body of the church contain individual saints, angels and biblical characters, themed around the Te Deum Laudamus. Other interior furnishings include an unusual wooden altarpiece. The apse
was added in 1865-6 by John Elkington Gill
, whose firm undertook much later work on the church. The church tower contains a peal of bells, although these are not regularly rung.
. The church choir sings at the main Sunday morning service each week, at choral evensong
each month, and at occasional special services. Christ Church is sometimes used as a concert venue in the Bath International Music Festival
and in recent years Joanna MacGregor
, the Hilliard Ensemble
and Exaudi have performed there.
Proprietary Chapel
A proprietary chapel is a chapel that originally belonged to a private person. In the 19th century Britain they were common, often being built to cope with urbanisation. Frequently they were set up by evangelical philanthropists with a vision of spreading Christianity in cities whose needs could no...
on Julian Road, Bath, England.
History and organisation
The church was founded by socially concerned clergy and lay people for those excluded from worship through the system of pew rents. It was probably the first church, at that time, to provide seating free of charge. Early supporters included the Archbishop of Canterbury, the great evangelical and campaigner against slavery, William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire...
and Martin Stafford Smith, godfather of John Keble
John Keble
John Keble was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, and gave his name to Keble College, Oxford.-Early life:...
, a founder of the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
.
Christ Church is part of the Bath and Wells Diocese, and the clergy of the church work on a non-stipendiary
Non-stipendiary priest
Non-stipendiary priests or non-stipendiary ministers are religious ministers who do not receive payment for their services, and who usually have alternative employment which provides monetary income with which they can support themselves....
basis. Because of this, it has had a large number of incumbents in its 200-year history. In recent decades many students at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
have worshipped at Christ Church.
The building
The building was designed by John PalmerJohn Palmer (Bath architect)
John Palmer was an English architect who worked on some of the notable buildings in the city of Bath in England...
, one of the principal architects working in Georgian Bath, and built in 1798. It is in a neo-Gothic style, but Classically proportioned, with north and south aisles and a gallery on three sides. Stained glass on the south side of the gallery is by A. O. Hemming and depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd may refer to:In Christianity:* The Good Shepherd , pericope found in John 10:1-21, and a popular image in which the Good Shepherd represents Jesus...
and the Parable of the Good Samaritan
Parable of the Good Samaritan
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a parable told by Jesus and is mentioned in only one of the Canonical gospels. According to the Gospel of Luke a traveller is beaten, robbed, and left half dead along the road. First a priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a...
. The two windows at the west end are by James Powell and Sons
James Powell and Sons
The firm of James Powell and Sons, also known as Whitefriars Glass, were English glassmakers, leadlighters and stained glass window manufacturers...
and show Christ in Majesty and the raising of the daughter of Jairus
Daughter of Jairus
The record of the daughter of Jairus is a combination of miracles of Jesus in the Gospels .The story immediately follows the exorcism at Gerasa. Jairus, a patron of the synagogue, asks Jesus to heal his dying daughter. However, according to Matthew, his daughter is already dead, not dying...
. There are nine lancet windows in the apse, and the windows in the main body of the church contain individual saints, angels and biblical characters, themed around the Te Deum Laudamus. Other interior furnishings include an unusual wooden altarpiece. The apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
was added in 1865-6 by John Elkington Gill
John Elkington Gill
John Elkington Gill was a 19th-century architect in Bath, Somerset, England. He was partnered with the more famous George Phillips Manners, and continued the latter's practice upon Manner's retirement in 1862. Upon Manner's death in 1866, he changed the name of the practice to his name alone...
, whose firm undertook much later work on the church. The church tower contains a peal of bells, although these are not regularly rung.
Music
In June 2003 David Briggs gave the inaugural recital on the three-manual organ after it was rebuilt by Deane's organ builders of TauntonTaunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
. The church choir sings at the main Sunday morning service each week, at choral evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
each month, and at occasional special services. Christ Church is sometimes used as a concert venue in the Bath International Music Festival
Bath International Music Festival
The Bath International Music Festival, also known as the Bath Music Fest, is held each summer in Bath, South West England. Inaugurated in 1948, the festival includes many genres such as orchestral, contemporary jazz, folk and electronica...
and in recent years Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
, the Hilliard Ensemble
Hilliard Ensemble
The Hilliard Ensemble is a British male vocal quartet originally devoted to the performance of early music. Founded in 1974, the group is named after the Elizabethan miniaturist painter Nicholas Hilliard....
and Exaudi have performed there.