Christ Church, Wesham

Christ Church is an Anglican church in Wesham, a small town in the English county of Lancashire. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn and the archdeaconry of Lancaster. It was built 1893–94 by Paley, Austin and Paley, and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

Christ Church
Christ Church from Garstang Road North
Christ Church Location in the Borough of Fylde
OS grid reference	SD 41762 33024
Location	Wesham, Lancashire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	11 June 1986
Architect(s)	Austin, Paley and Austin Austin and Paley
Construction cost	£3,350 (equivalent to £380,000 in 2019)
Administration
Deanery	Kirkham
Archdeaconry	Lancaster
Diocese	Blackburn
Province	York
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Rev Anne Beverley[1]
Laity
Organist(s)	Mr E Lang
Churchwarden(s)	Mrs C Norcross, Dr B Lang

Tower from the south

Memorial stone to the Wesham Workhouse paupers

History and administration

Building of the church started in 1893–94, but at this time the east end was not included. The church was designed by the Lancaster-based architecture firm of Paley, Austin and Paley. The church provided seating for 229 people, and cost £3,350 (equivalent to £460,000 in 2019).[2][3] In 1927–28, the east end was completed, a south porch was added, and the nave was reseated, increasing the seating to 317. This was carried out by Henry Paley, trading as Austin and Paley, and cost £5,650.[4]

The church was used as a chapel-of-ease to Kirkham until 1913, when it was made a separate parish. The foundation stone was laid on 30 June 1892, by the Lady E. C. Clifton, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Moorhouse on 27 September 1894.

On 11 June 1986, Christ Church was designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage.[5] The Grade II designation—the third highest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest".[6] An active church in the Church of England, Christ Church is part of the diocese of Blackburn, which is in the Province of York. It is in the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the Deanery of Kirkham. It forms a benefice with Christ Church, Treales.[7]

2013 saw a concert by British Christian singer-songwriter and worship leader Graham Kendrick.[8]

Architecture

Christ Church is in the Decorated Perpendicular style and is constructed of red brick with dressings in red terracotta.[9] The roof is red tile. The church plan consists of a nave and chancel under one roof, with a steeple to the south-west.[5] The tower is of three stages and has a stepped sandstone parapet; the steeple is clad in green slate.[5][9]

The nave has six bays and internally there are stone piers.[9] The chancel has a large east window with mouchette tracery.[5]

External features

The churchyard contains the war graves of two soldiers of World War I, and four soldiers and a Royal Navy chaplain of World War II.[10] There is also a memorial to the paupers of the Wesham Workhouse.

See also

• Listed buildings in Medlar-with-Wesham
• List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley
• List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1916–44)

References

Citations

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
3. Brandwood et al. 2012, p. 240.
4. Brandwood et al. 2012, p. 251.
5. Historic England, "Christ Church (1072028)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 3 October 2011
6. "Listed Buildings", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage, archived from the original on 24 January 2013, retrieved 18 October 2011
7. "Church Details: Wesham Christ Church", blackburn.anglican.org, Diocese of Blackburn, archived from the original on 5 April 2012, retrieved 18 October 2011
8. "An Evening with Graham Kendrick – Preston". .grahamkendrick.co.uk/. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
9. Hartwell & Pevsner (2009), pp. 684–85
10. WESHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, retrieved 13 February 2013

Sources

• Brandwood, Geoff; Austin, Tim; Hughes, John; Price, James (2012), The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin, Swindon: English Heritage, ISBN 978-1-84802-049-8
• Hartwell, Clare; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2009) [1969], Lancashire: North, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-12667-0

External links

• "Christ Church Wesham" at wesham.org.uk