On 19th July 1861 the Bishop of London consecrated Christ Church and in 2011 we  celebratied a century and a half of worship in the heart of Wanstead. The roof is also 150 years old and in urgent need of restoration if the church is to continue serving the parish into the next century. We are planning a number of festivities and events to celebrate and also to raise funds for this vital work.

St. Mary’s had been the parish church since the Middle Ages, but with the coming of the railway to Snaresbrook in the 1850s it was clear that a second church was needed to be sited at the Snaresbrook end of the parish. The Rector,the Revd William Pitt Wigram and the Wigram family appear to have paid a third of the building costs. Other donations and collections were solicited. The architect was George Gilbert Scott, who also designed the nearby Infant Orphan Asylum, now Snaresbrook Crown Court. Scott was a prolific architect. He designed the Midland Grand Hotel at St. Pancras station and the Albert Memorial as well as 200 other churches. Christ Church was built at the height of the Gothic revival and the architecture is the geometric style of the late 13th century. Originally, it was a chancel, with the north aisle and a nave of four bays. In 1867 a south aisle was added and the church lengthened by a bay. A tower and spire were then added in 1869 and vestries in 1889.

It is a listed Grade II *building which means that English Heritage require specialist firms and materials to be used for any renovation work.

To renovate the roof is a very expensive undertaking that will cost at least £260,000 (£235,000 if VAT is refunded under the Listed Places of Worship scheme). We are most grateful that the Heritage Lottery Fund has offered a grant in principle for £158,000. We are also in the process of applying for other grants to help meet some of the outstanding balance. Nonetheless we anticipate having to raise £50,000 by ourselves. We have made a good start and have already banked £20,000.

 

Petty, Son and Prestwich are kindly sponsoring the “Raise the Roof” campaign.

Below are pictures of the current state of the roof:

Adhesive patch repair

Holes where the lead has been eaten away Previous lead repairs

Re-slated in 1979

If you would like to make a donation please either go to www.charitygiving.co.uk and search for “Parish of Wanstead” or make a cheque payable to The Friends of St Mary the Virgin with Christ Church and deliver to The Rectory, 37 Wanstead Place London E11 2SW. If you are a UK taxpayer please complete a gift aid declaration. Click here for a form. It increases your donation by 25 %.

 Liz welcomes the Mayor

The Mayor discusses the exhibits with Denis Keeling, who curated the exhibition