Can you find the graves of two of our former vicars (they are within the central section at the front of church) or how about the the makers of steam powered engines Pollit & Wigzell (located at the side of the tower) or if you can manage the path, why not head out to the East Gate and look at the memorial stone from Ellison Memorial School on your way you may notice the old font which we believe may have come from the Old Brigg Chapel.Our churchyard is open: a calming space just yards away from the town centre. Enjoy the distant view of hills, or get up close to urban wildlife whilst sitting on the benches. Self guide leaflets available to download with short tour & nature notes.Step away from the bustle of traffic and back to when the town boomed in the Industrial Revolution. All around are memorials dated from 1821 until this graveyard reached capacity and was closed to new burials from 1 March 1859 by the Principal Secretary of State to Queen Victoria. Since then it has been a place to reflect and a haven for wildlife. Trees and shrubs were planted in memory of loved ones, the old font is now a bird bath, and the gaps between graves are home to wild flowers and insects.Feel free to sit by the planted tubs and enjoy the natural world around you. Reflect on all those who have loved this place for almost 200 years but lived in a very different town to what you see now. Please stay socially distant!Why not try our prayer walk or try and find the diffrent plants, shrubs and trees we have within the churchyard or take a look at the hidden nature. The prayer walk is approx. 10 minutes with extra time to reflect, our plant survey and hidden nature can be done at the same time.Prayer walkPlant surveyHidden NatureAs part of the heritage within the town we have the annual rushbearing. This year it was a little diffrent, why not watch the video and listen to the sound of Sowerby Bridge Morris Dancers. While you're in the area why not visit more local sites of hidden nature. . From the canal basin opposite take the towpath walk towards Halifax to see the urban nature reserves being created as part of the Calder Valley Greening project managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust or visit Crow Wood ParkFor anyone wanting to see inside the church, this can be arrainged, please use our contact us form and a member of our team will be intouch with you.Should you have any issues on the day, please contact our Churchwarden Peter on 07720 745 230
Thanks to Sarah and Robert at ROSA's Furniture and Gifts of Sowerby Bridge who have kindly sorted the planters outside Church. They have planted Lavender, geraniums and trailing plants, which should be in full bloom soon.
With Summer just around the corner, and the hottest spring in a long time, and with the relaxing of Social Distancing we have been able to put our church benches back out for everyone to sit and enjoy the sun. Whilst the church it's self has been closed, our churchyard has looked a little unloved, but we have now been able to make a start on clearing up the church yard. Last week we started to weed the main path and across the front of church. The main path has been swept of all the fallen blossom and we have even reset the clock to show the correct time.Over the course of the next few weeks, we will continue to make the churchyard more pleasing to the eye.If you feel the urge to pull out a few weeds, or do a little gardening, please feel free to do so, we really don't mind, the church is there after all for the community.
During this current situation of lockdowns due to COVID19 parish churches have had to look at different ways of "being church".Since the start of the lockdown Christ Church has been embracing modern technology in order to serve the parish of Sowerby Bridge.Our Churchwarden Peter Henry said "Each day the vicar has been bringing us daily readings via our church prayer and support group on WhatsApp, whilst each Sunday her service is from her study. Members of the congregation have also got behind this and are featured in one or two of our services. But our issue was coffee morning, how to make this a new norm. to achieve this we have been using zoom, as a way for us all to see and chat with each other, like we would on any normal coffee morning. Each week we send an invite to our members, inviting them to click on the link and join us."Moving forward, the link will also appear on our calendar invites, so like our coffee mornings, anyone can pop in for a brew and a natter.You do have to provide your own biscuits and brew, but the natter is free. Why not check our website for details of our next coffee morning, and join us
