Christ Church, Hampstead
Encyclopedia
Christ Church Hampstead is a Church of England
church in Hampstead
, London. It is the original church of Hampstead and the Heath.
in the Early English Gothic style. In 1860 a timber gallery was erected by Sir Gilbert Scott
(this was dismantled in the 1960s). In 1881-1882 the north porch and aisle were added to designs by Ewan Christian
. The church is constructed of Kentish ragstone with Portland stone dressings and slate roofs.
Clement Attlee
, (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
from 1945–1951) married Violet Millar in Christ Church on 10 January 1922.
. They were installed in 2005 after Michael Royalton-Kisch, the current tower captain, single-handedly raised £100,000 to replace the old, unsafe bells. The current band practices on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, and rings for most Sunday services.
The treble, tenor, third and fifth bells were the work of Gillett & Johnston
, adopted from St Luke's in Cowley
, Oxford
. The remaining four bells were cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry
in 2005.
who also became the church's first organist. The organ has since been replaced.
There have been a number of famous organists including:
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London. It is the original church of Hampstead and the Heath.
History
The present church was erected between 1850 and 1852 to designs by the architect Samuel DaukesSamuel Daukes
Samuel Whitfield Daukes was an English architect. He was born in London in 1811, the son of Samuel Whitfield Daukes, a businessman with coal mining and brewery interests, who bought Diglis House, Worcester in 1827. He was articled about 1827 to James Pigott Pritchett of York, and had set himself...
in the Early English Gothic style. In 1860 a timber gallery was erected by Sir Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott may refer to several of a family of British architects:* Sir George Gilbert Scott , who was principally known for his architectural designs for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and St Pancras Station...
(this was dismantled in the 1960s). In 1881-1882 the north porch and aisle were added to designs by Ewan Christian
Ewan Christian
Ewan Christian was a British architect. He is most notable for the restoration of Carlisle Cathedral, the alterations to Christ Church, Spitalfields in 1866, and the extension to the National Gallery that created the National Portrait Gallery. He was architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners...
. The church is constructed of Kentish ragstone with Portland stone dressings and slate roofs.
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
, (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
from 1945–1951) married Violet Millar in Christ Church on 10 January 1922.
Vicars
- John Pelham 1852 - 1855
- Edward Bickersteth 1855 - 1885
- George Frederick Head 1885 - 1897
- James Bevan 1888 - 1892
- George Sidney Streatfeild 1901 - ????
- Thomas Brocas Waters 1917 - 1922
- Paul Conrad
Bells
The church has a ring of eight bells, the heaviest of which weighs in at 24cwtHundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
. They were installed in 2005 after Michael Royalton-Kisch, the current tower captain, single-handedly raised £100,000 to replace the old, unsafe bells. The current band practices on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, and rings for most Sunday services.
The treble, tenor, third and fifth bells were the work of Gillett & Johnston
Gillett & Johnston
Gillett and Johnston is a clock and formerly bell manufacturing business in Croydon, England.-History:William Gillett started a clock making business on Union Road in Croydon, England in 1844. Charles Bland became a partner in 1854 and the company became known as Gillet and Bland. In 1877, Arthur...
, adopted from St Luke's in Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. The remaining four bells were cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
in 2005.
| Bell | Weight | Note | Cast | Founder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treble | 6-0-1 | Eb | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 2 | 6-3-2 | D | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 3 | 7-0-26 | C | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 4 | 8-0-4 | Bb | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 5 | 10-2-12 | Ab | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
| 6 | 12-1-26 | G | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| 7 | 17-0-8 | F | 2005 | Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
| Tenor | 24-0-5 | Eb | 1938 | Gillett & Johnston |
Organ
The church had an organ installed in 1852 by the celebrated builder Henry WillisHenry Willis
Henry Willis was a British organ player and builder, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era.-Early Life and work:...
who also became the church's first organist. The organ has since been replaced.
There have been a number of famous organists including:
- Henry WillisHenry WillisHenry Willis was a British organ player and builder, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era.-Early Life and work:...
1852 - 1859 - Henry Parratt 1859 – ???? (formerly organist of St. Paul’s Church, Huddersfield)
- John Charles Ward 1863 - 1868
- Dr. Marshall of Kidderminster 1868
- Charles John Vincent 1883–1891
- Henry Walford DaviesHenry Walford DaviesSir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE was a British composer, who held the title Master of the King's Musick from 1934 until 1941.-Early life and education:...
1891 - 1898 - Cyril RoothamCyril RoothamCyril Bradley Rootham was an English composer, educator, organist and important figure in Cambridge music life.-Biography:...
1898 - 1901