PROPOSED

CHURCH AND SCHOOLS

AT THE STONEGRAVELSIn the Township of Newbold, and District of Trinity Church, Chesterfield.THE Rector of Trinity Church, Chesterfield, appeals to the Owners of property in the Stonegravels, and to the friends of Church Extension in Chesterfield and its neighbourhood, for assistance in erecting a Church and Schools at the Stonegravels.

The population of the Stonegravels and neighbourhood is about 1,500, consisting chiefly of the working classes, for whom no adequate Church accommodation is provided. There are 340 free sittings in Trinity Church, but this number is insufficient for the labouring population of the remaining portion of the District. In addition to this, in consequence of the closing of the Trinity Churchyard, funerals from the Stonegravels have to be taken either to the Cemetery of Chesterfield, distant from the centre of the Stonegravels bout 1½ miles, or to Newbold Church, distant about one mile, where the fees charged to out-parishioners are necessarily very large to meet these wants it is proposed to erect a small Church for the use of the working classes, containing 166 sittings entirely free and unappropriated, and to attach to the Church one acre of ground as a Church-yard. The cost of the Church and land, Church fittings, &c., will be about £86O, towards which sum the Diocesan Society has made a Grant of £100, and the Incorporated society a Grant of £40.

There are no Schools in the Stonegravels, nor any nearer than the Infant School, Holywell Street, or the National Schools, in Soresby Street, distant at least one mile from the centre of the place. It is proposed to erect schools for 150 children, (90 infants and 60 boys and girls) at a Cost, including a School House and the price of the Land, of £900, towards which sum a Grant of £256 l5s. 0d. has been made by the Committee of Council on Education.

The subscription lists are printed separately in order that persons may contribute to the object which they consider to be the most important; the Rector of Trinity Church however trusts that the friends of Education and Church Extension in the neighbourhood will agree with him in the opinion that both are necessary and worthy of their support.



 

Subscriptions may be paid to Messrs. Crompton, and Co. , Bankers, Chesterfield ; or to Rev. M. Holmes, Trinity Rectory, Chesterfield

HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH 
 

The Foundation Stone of this ‘small Church,’ was laid on 5 September 1869 by theVenerable Thos. Hill B.D. Archdeacon of Derby.

The Church made of Wingerworth Stone, and with a Bangor Slate roof, was built by J Heathcote & Sons and consecrated on 20 September 1870 by the Bishop of Lichfield.

In 1913, Christ Church became a Parish in its own right and the original Nave was ‘extended and flanked by companion Chapels’ on 13 Oct of that year. This extension cost £1800 and the Church then seated 487 people, mainly on chairs. A subsequent purchase of pews from Barlow Church slightly reduced the seating capacity.

The Church includes a number of Stained Glass windows and one to the side of the East window is of special interest. This depicts two soldiers looking at an illuminated crucifix and is dedicated to bandsman Thomas William Stubley (Sidesman of this Church) who was killed in action 16 May 1916. It is understood that the deceased’s family chose this design because a postcard bearing this image was found on their son’s body.

The north wall of the Chancel contains an oak carved ‘Roll of Honour’ to the men of Stonegravels who died in the First World War. This was made by Eyre and Sons of Chesterfield and was erected on 24 April 1919.

For many years the Church has had strong connections with the Armed Forces, and Chesterfield British Legion’s annual Remembrance Service is held here each November with the Mayor and local Councillors in attendance.

To the left of the ‘Roll of Honour’ is the Standard of the Chesterfield and District Branch of the Old Contemptibles, which was ‘laid up’ on 16 August 1968.

The first Harvest Festival Service to be conducted in Chesterfield was in Christ Church.

The eastern end of the North chapel was panelled in oak by John Leslie Hadfield and designated as the ‘Children’s Corner’ in August 1949 in memory of his son John Barry Hadfield. John Leslie Hadfield later became Mayor of Chesterfield.

In January 1936, the Baptistry was created by erecting decorated oak panels in the south west corner of the Church. The Baptistry was renamed the ‘Quiet Corner’ when the Font was removed to the east end of the Chancel in June 1984.

This area contains one of the Church’s most treasured possessions; a tiny wooden cross once owned by a former vicar of Christ Church. The late Reverend S Lewis had been a Chaplain in the last War and had carried this handmade cross through the jungles of Burma.

The Church School became ‘Voluntary Controlled’ in 1954 and moved to its present site off Tapton View Road in 1969. After the departure of the School, the building became the Church Hall and today is the Stonegravels Parish Centre.

With the development of the Wildlife Area in the Lower Churchyard and the activities in the Parish Centre the Church is looking to reach out to the local community and plans are being considered to partition off part of the Church to extend community activity.

Vicars 

1914 –1925 … … … … Rev. J. DUCKER 

1925 –1930 … … … … Rev. E. LL. LLOYD 

1930 –1935 … … … … Rev. J. P. HART 

1935 –1939 … … … … Rev. F. GINEVER 

1939 –1948 … … … … Rev. S. T. LEWIS 

1949 –1955 … … … … Rev. S. R. SMITH 

1956 –1971 … … … … Rev. E. GREGSON

 
1971 –1993 … … … … Rev. V. C. MOSS  

1994 –1995 … … … … Rev. N. D. GREENWOOD  Priest in Charge  

1995 –1999 … … … … Rev. N. D. GREENWOOD  Rector

1995-1999... ... ... ... ... Rev. S. Potter Curate

Update 2010

Christ church was built as a daughter church in 1870 was extended, and two side chapels added in 1913, it then became the Parish of Christ Church. In 2006 the north aisle was partitioned from the main church to form additional meeting space, kitchenette and toilet facilities for the Parish Centre. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Gill Bequest funded this. The partitioning can be opened up to give additional space for services, and the area is used to serve refreshments at the end of services etc.

The church benefited from a new gas central heating system in the summer of 2009. The building was found to be sound following a recent Quinquennial report.

The Churchyard Wildlife Project has involvement from a number of groups including Community Payback Team, the Young Offenders Programme and from several groups of young people with disabilities, plus other volunteers.