Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS03287
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flowers, Todmorden
Arrangements at Christ Church, Todmorden, for Mayor's civic service
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-29T19:33:16
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS03287.tif
Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS03286
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flowers, Todmorden
Arrangements at Christ Church, Todmorden, for Mayor's civic service
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-29T19:33:06
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS03286.tif
Floral Arrangements - TAS03285
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flowers, Todmorden
Arrangements at Christ Church, Todmorden, for Mayor's civic service
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-29T19:32:55
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS03285.tif
Floral Arrangements - TAS03284
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flowers, Todmorden
Arrangements at Christ Church, Todmorden, for Mayor's civic service
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-29T19:32:45
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS03284.tif
Interior of Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS00432
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Interior, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Looking up the Nave to the Sanctuary and East Window.
Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:34:49
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00432.tif
Interior of Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS00431
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Interior, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Murals to the left of the High Altar.
Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:34:38
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00431.tif
Interior of Christ Church Todmorden - TAS00430
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Interior, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Murals to the right of the High Altar.
Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:34:30
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00430.tif
Interior of Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS00429
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Interior, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Looking down the nave from the Chancel. Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:34:20
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00429.tif
Christ Church Vicarage, Todmorden. - TAS00428
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Minster, Todmorden
When Christ Church replaced St Mary’s as the Parish Church this became Todmorden Vicarage. With the closure of the Church in the 1990s it passed into private hands.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:34:10
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00428.tif
Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS00427
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Gravestones, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:33:59
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00427.tif
Christ Church, Todmorden - TAS00426
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
On June 29 1830, the cornerstone for Christ Church, Todmorden was laid amidst great celebrations. A large crowd of people had gathered to hear speeches from local dignitaries and watch the stone being laid. During the ceremony, a rope broke and the stone swung, injuring a spectator and the drummer of the band, William Midgley, breaking his leg.
Building progressed rapidly and on April 15 1832, the church opened, with Rev. Joseph Cowell appointed vicar. Rev. Cowell had been the main driving force behind the construction of the new church, although he came to regret this.
The church is a Commissioners Church which was funded by the 1820 Million Pound Act which came into force after a survey had shown that no new churches had been built since the reign of Queen Anne. £1 million (roughly equivalent to £50 million in 2013 terms) was allocated for new churches to be built in industrial areas for the middle and lower classes and the money was found from the indemnity money paid by the French after the Napoleonic Wars. A grant of £3379 was provided to fund the church.
The church was designed by Lewis Vulliamy, who designed at least 14 Commissioners Churches as well as working on alterations to Rochester Cathedral in the 1840s. The church continued as the parish church of Todmorden until 1992 when St. Marys was re-dedicated and Christ Church closed. The church remained unused until 2003 when it passed into private hands, although during the period when it was unused it was vandalised.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:33:49
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00426.tif
Christ Church and Vicarage, Todmorden - TAS00425
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Minster, Religion, Todmorden
Christ Church built in1830-32 was one of the 'Million Pound’, or Commissioner’s, churches and came to replace St Mary’s as the Parish Church, although the town remained in Rochdale Parish until 1866. By the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. The church is now in private ownership and the vicarage is a private house.
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2014-09-26T19:33:39
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00425.tif
St Mary's Church, Todmorden, c1860. - TAS00401
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Minster, Todmorden
There seems to have been a church on the site since the 15th century but prior to the mid-19th century Todmorden was a chapelry mainly in the Parish of Rochdale but part in the Parish of Halifax. With the opening of Christ Church in 1832 St Mary's became largely redundant but by the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church.
More information:
http://www.todmordenstmarys.org/html/church_history.htm
Unknown
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1920
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00401.tif
St Mary's Church, Todmorden, c1770 - TAS00400
Christ Church, Church, Churches & Chapels, Churches_&_Chapels, Minster, Todmorden
There seems to have been a church on the site since the 15th century but prior to the mid-19th century Todmorden was a chapelry mainly in the Parish of Rochdale but part in the Parish of Halifax. With the opening of Christ Church in 1832 St Mary's became largely redundant but by the 1980s it was accepted that the parish could not support two churches and in 1992 Christ Church was closed and St Mary's was fully renovated and once again became the Parish Church. Drawing by unknown artist.
More information:
http://www.todmordenstmarys.org/html/church_history.htm
Unknown
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1940
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAS00400.tif
Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge - MCH00197
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Sowerby Bridge
At the junction of Tuel Lane and Wharfe Street, Sowerby Bridge. Built in 1821 with a history going back to 1526.
Mick Chatham
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
PHDA - Mick Chatham Collection
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
MCH00197.tif
Christ Church, Todmorden - MCH00186
Christ Church, Church Yard, Churches & Chapels, Todmorden, clock tower
Formerly Todmorden Parish Church. A Grade 2 listed building in Gothic style. It was a Commissioner's Church built in 1832. It closed for worship in 1992.
Mick Chatham
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
PHDA - Mick Chatham Collection
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
MCH00186.tif
Window at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge - KST00125
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Interior, Sowerby Bridge, stained glass
Flower displays at Christ Church.
Ken Stott
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2013-08-30T10:08:59
PHDA - Ken Stott Collection
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
KST00125.tif
Flower Display, Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge - KST00124
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flower display, Sowerby Bridge
Ken Stott
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2013-08-30T10:08:25
PHDA - Ken Stott Collection
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
KST00124.tif
Flower Display at Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge - KST00123
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Flower display, Sowerby Bridge
Water Wheel flower display
Ken Stott
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
2013-08-30T10:08:00
PHDA - Ken Stott Collection
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
KST00123.tif
Todmorden Parish Church - TAL00554
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Todmorden
Christ Church floodlit in 1932. AN 32938183
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1932
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00554.tif
View over Todmorden - TAL00497
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Todmorden
Todmorden Postcards. AN 69927720
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1960
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00497.tif
Todmorden Unitarian Male Voice Choir, c1920 - TAL00416
Choir, Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, People, Todmorden
AN 55941326
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1920
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00416.tif
Todmorden Parish Church, 1958 - TAL00405
Altar, Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Interior, Mosaics, Pulpit, Todmorden
Christ Church, Todmorden.
Around the year 1829 the vicar of St. Mary's in Todmorden, the Reverend Joseph Cowell, proposed that the church should be either rebuilt or enlarged at its present site. Another proposal was that it should be removed to another site in the town and a completely new church be built.
A new church was the accepted proposal and was to be built on the site of the new vicarage and cemetery, which had already been erected on land given by Samuel Greenwood of Stones. Lewis Vulliamy from London was the architect. The corner stone was laid at Whitsuntide on 29 June 1830 amidst great celebrations. A procession was led from the old churchyard to the new and many crowds of people had gathered to hear the speeches by the various dignitaries and watch the stone being laid.
The money for the building costs of the new church came from the Million Pound Act. This was an act which had been passed in 1820 after a survey had shown that no new churches had been built since the reign of Queen Anne. £1 million was allocated for new churches to be built in industrial areas for the middle and lower classes and the money was found from the indemnity money paid by the French after the Napoleonic Wars. They were built to rigid budgets and were very plain.
Building progressed rapidly and the new church, which came to be known as Christ Church, was opened on 15 April 1832. The Rev. Joseph Cowell was the vicar and had been the main instigator and driving force for the new church, a fact that he later came to regret.
There was a great division amongst the population of Todmorden and many thought that the new church had been built for the benefit of the rich and the clergy. One family in particular, great church goers, when asked why they didn't attend the new church, replied:
"You have not built yon church for Todmorden and Walsden folk, but for the rich and those who live up in Harley-Wood"
Maybe they were thinking of the terms of the Million Pound Act.
Pews had been taken from the old church to put in the new and the last thing to go was the organ. It was acts like this that so annoyed and upset the people and they looked upon them as a desecration of the church. When the organ was removed from the old church it had to be renovated before it was thought suitable to grace a brand new church. The cost was £85 and the re-opening took place at Christ Church on Sunday April 5th 1835. There was a grand concert and the singers were Miss Sykes, Mr. Tom Parker, tenor, and Mr. Womersley, bass. They were paid one guinea each, whilst the organist, Mr. William Greenwood, was paid 2 guineas.
Rev. Cowell, on hearing and seeing how the new church had split the townsfolk, was heard to comment that he acknowledged that it was the greatest mistake of his life, and that he wouldn't rest until he had restored the old church and had it reopened for worship again. In 1840 he was the head of a petition delivered to the vicar of St. Chad's, Rochdale, to try and make Christ Church into the parish church of Todmorden and to reopen St. Mary's. This would make them separate from St. Chad's, which would no longer be the parish church. It was argued that Todmorden had grown to a population of 10,000 and they could pay for the upkeep of both their churches.
The Reverend Cowell did not see his dream come to fruition as he died in 1846, but he was the first to plant the seeds of an idea, which would come to be a reality twenty years hence.
Extract from Todmorden & Walsden website.
AN 3413172X
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1958
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00405.tif
Todmorden Male Voice Choir, 1900s - TAL00401
Choir, Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, People, Todmorden
AN 58159547
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
1900
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00401.tif
Christ Church, Todmorden - TAL00347
Christ Church, Churches & Chapels, Mosaics, Todmorden
AN 34131789
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
PHDA - Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
TIFF file 8-bit
English (U.K.)
Documentary photograph
TAL00347.tif