Christ Church

Christ Church is an Anglican parish church, originally built in 1837 and with a chapel rebuilt in 1905. Designed by C. E. Ponting at a cost of £20,000, funded by Charles Awdry, the church is constructed of squared rubblestone with ashlar buttresses, topped with a Westmorland slate roof over a timber framed clerestory. It comprises a five-bay nave, a north-west tower, short transepts, and an apsidal east end, and is executed in an Arts and Crafts Gothic style.

The west-facing tower has a Perpendicular-style door with decorated spandrels and polygonal pilasters, featuring statues of the Angel Gabriel and Mary above. The four-stage tower is characterised by plain buttresses that extend upwards, supporting life-size statues of saints and prophets on each of the eight buttresses. Above a string course is two two-light Gothic windows. Four rainwater spouts are carved in the form of winged beasts. The building is finished with a pierced embattled parapet and an oak-shingled needle spire. The west window is in a late Gothic style and contains stained glass by H. Wilkinson, serving as a memorial to the 1914-18 War. A square vestry, with a hipped slate roof and raked buttresses, is attached to the south-west corner.

The nave’s aisles feature five Decorated-style windows, separated by pilasters. The timber-framed clerestory has roughcase panels and four three-light square-headed windows. The south transept includes a rose window and two lancets. The apsidal east end has four tall two-light Perpendicular-style windows, again separated by pilasters. A decorated lead fleche rises over the crossing.

Inside, the porch beneath the west tower features a ribbed vaulted ceiling supported by corbels. The nave and clerestory are oak timber-framed, with chamfered aisle posts and an arched braced arcade. The roof features arched braced tie beam trusses with queen posts and decorated spandrels. All windows have square-headed openings. A carved oak screen encloses the chancel on three sides, particularly elaborate on the nave side. A fine reredos of carved oak, with statues of the Apostles in niches, Christ in the centre, and St. Michael above, was created by Messrs. Martyn and Co. of Cheltenham. Other features include sedilia, a piscina, brass candelabra from the earlier St Michael’s church in Melksham, carved oak choir stalls, and Victorian nave pews from the original chapel. Stained glass in the aisle windows, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, depicts saints and is dedicated to members of the Awdry and Steadman families. A 1908 watercolour by John Creswell, depicting the church as rebuilt by Ponting, is displayed at the west end of the south aisle. A framed historical record of the church is located in the nave.