About Us
The parish of Christ Church is situated on the north eastern edge of Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. The church stands on one of the highest points of the town and its spire is visible for many miles.
The parish is largely residential. Christ Church Primary School (C of E controlled) and the church share a common boundary, the church being used for school services. St Laurence School (secondary) is close by in the neighbouring parish of Holy Trinity.
Christ Church is an open, friendly church and our doors are open every day from 10am to 4pm for all to visit, whether to see our late Victorian east end wall paintings, to pray or just to sit awhile in quiet. Wheelchair access to the church is by our main west door. Our churchyard is now closed to new burials. A folder inside the church on a board near the pulpit steps contains a list of those whose burial plot is known, together with a plan indicating its position.
Our Sunday services follow the following pattern. The first Sunday in the month is a joint morning benefice Communion service at one of our four churches. The second and third Sundays at Christ Church are either Communion or Morning Prayer. The fourth Sunday is an informal 'Refresh' service which includes led discussions and hymns. Any fifth Sunday will be a joint benefice service at one of the four churches. On the first Wednesday of the month at Christ Church there is a said Communion service followed by coffee. There is an occasional weekday Compline service.
The Ark Baby & Toddler cafe meets weekly on Thursdays in term time, and Open the Book sessions take place in Christ Church Primary School. There are also Bible study house groups, and a small group of musicians play for some services. The Mother's Union branch has amalgamated with the Holy Trinity branch, where they now meet.
The pupils of the large local primary school use the church for their end of term services, concerts, carol services and festivals. Teachers often use the church as a teaching space, and Open the Book and Collective Worship run by the church is a regular part of the school week.
Since 2021 we have been planning to (A) install toilets and a kitchen area at the west end of the nave and (B) to restore and conserve the late Victorian wall paintings on the west nave wall, repair the tower clock, and work on parts of the bell frame and the bells.
It proved easier to fund restoration and conservation work with a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and our own fundraising. Work began in early 2023 and is planned for completion in 2025. The church will remain open during this period for both services and visits at any time.
We have raised a large proportion of the amount needed for the kitchen and toilets, but are not there yet. We are awaiting decisions on some grant applications, but in the meantime we are continuing with our own fund-raising efforts. We pray that the final amounts needed will be found, so that work can begin.
Donations of any size would help us reach our target sooner. So if you know Christ Church, maybe were baptised or married here, attended Sunday School or got to know us through our close links with the school, could you please consider helping our efforts by donating via our Give A Little campaign.
https://givealittle.co/campaigns/348fecb5-74e7-4c75-90ad-be78d59210da
For fuller information on the two projects, please see the Future for Christ Church page.
The parish is part of the Benefice of North Bradford-on-Avon and Villages, along with the parishes of St. James (South Wraxall), St. Nicholas (Winsley) and St. Peter (Monkton Farleigh).