Christ Church today is a thriving community of all ages and stages that welcomes all kinds of people living, working or studying in Kensington for public worship and pastoral care.

Since WWII, Christ Church experienced many challenges but a resolute, never-say-die approach saw it survive, often against all odds. A prodigious amount of hard work by deputy wardens and treasurers and an array of coffee mornings, bring and buy sales, summer bazaars and other fundraising ventures by parishioners ensured that bills were paid and works completed on the roof, tower, organ and to the external stonework. Despite regular and repeated threats of closure over 50 years, Christ Church continued to serve its local community and now flourishes, due in no small part to those parishioners who never gave up.

Restoration

The restoration part of the project will see repairs to the roof, stonework and rainwater goods completed as we repair and reslate the aisle roofs. The interior of the church will be redecorated where water ingress has caused damage and the glorious stain-glass windows will also receive a new lease on life. Our beautiful organ will be repaired and restored so that it can continue to support services and perform at concerts. Volunteers who have received training from the Royal School of Needlework will be repairing our intricate frontals and pulpit falls. These hand-embroidered textiles were created by women from the Christ Church congregation in the early 20th Century and it is wonderful that volunteers from Christ Church will be continuing that tradition and ensuring they endure for another century.

Regeneration

We provide a meeting space for local schools and groups and children’s activities, care for disadvantaged people, and offer a venue for concerts and art exhibitions. The Community Appeal will enable Christ Church to be even more of a hub for the Kensington village, able to offer an increased educational programme for local school children and an enhanced cultural programme of performing and visual arts. As such, the Appeal is a chance for the whole community to become involved in the planned improvements to this significant local landmark, so that Christ Church will be a thriving centre of activity in a flourishing neighbourhood.

View the Key Works of the project in more detail.

Repairs to stonework will be carried out as part of the Restoration and Regeneration Project

Water ingress due to roof problems damaged some areas of the interior. These will be redecorated as part of the project.

Volunteers have undertaken training at the Royal School of Needlework in order to repair the frontals and other church textiles

One of our volunteers learning how to repair the frontals at the Royal School of Needlework

Roof repairs, before and after.

The completed chancel roof (right) in stark contrast with the aisle roof (left) which is in need of repair

Repairs to the nave roof were carried out in 2013

The interior of the church

The beautiful east window representing the Book of Common Prayer’s Te Deum Laudamus (We Praise Thee O Lord)

Our beautiful organ will also be repaired as part of the Restoration and Regeneration project.

The lighting and heating in the church will both be improved to make the space more comfortable, usable and environmentally friendly

Pews will be repaired and refinished.