A History of Christ Church and the Parish of Shieldfield

The church is said to stand on the site of a Civil War fort. A plaque on the green opposite commemorates King Charles's visits to "The Shield Field" when a prisoner at Newcastle - he was permitted recreation time here. It is difficult now to imagine the Victorian Shieldfield that Christ Church was built to serve, let alone the Shieldfield where King Charles played golf! Nothing is left of the old flats and tenements - only the church.


Christ Church was consecrated in 1861 and is a Grade ll* Listed building. There are historic features and memorials to view inside Christ Church, including fine stone moldings, First World War memorial plaque, beautiful stained glass windows, reredos by the renowned Victorian artist Charles Edgar Buckerage and Christ the King figure suspended over the chancel by renowned church artist Martin Travers. 

The silver trowel used to lay the church foundation stone in 1859 is in display in the Discovery Museum. 

More information about the history of Christ Church and Shieldfield are on display inside the church