Among lavender fields it was built. Christ Church, Sutton, stands here today. It is no longer surrounded by fields of lavender though.
Christ Church, Sutton, a beacon of faith and history, welcomes you. This grand red-brick church has stood since 1888. It has a story etched in its very stones. Let’s step back in time.
In the late 19th century, Sutton was growing. The original Iron Church was no longer sufficient. So, land was acquired. It lay east of Brighton Road. Architects Newman and Jacques designed Christ Church, Sutton. Builders Gregory and Company of Clapham brought it to life. The cost? About £8,000. That sum excluded heating, the altar, organ, and other furnishings.
Imagine the scene. The Rev. James Courtney-Gale oversaw the construction. He would serve at Christ Church for over fifty years. The church grew. Around 1910, J. D. Round added a west narthex and the base of a tower.
Christ Church, Sutton, boasts the largest auditorium in Sutton. The nave has five bays. There is a chancel, apse, north and south aisles, chapel, narthex, and vestries.
Notice the exterior. It is a striking example of late Victorian architecture. Red brick and limestone create a grand effect. The tall nave has clerestory windows. Lean-to aisles feature single lancets.
At the west end, tall lancets catch your eye. Angle buttresses rise to octagonal pinnacles. A complex of single-storey structures forms a porch. This porch was intended as the base of a tower. The narthex has a projecting three-sided baptistry. Crenellated parapets adorn the narthex and baptistry.
Look to the east end. The chancel is slightly lower than the nave. It terminates in a five-sided apse. Tall lancets grace each bay. A large chapel sits to the south. A transept to the north houses the organ chamber and vestries.
Step inside Christ Church, Sutton. The broad, spacious interior is clad in bare brick. Arcades separate the nave from the aisles. Notice the alternating round and octagonal piers. Grey stone wall-shafts mark the bays of the clerestory. They form bases for the roof trusses.
Admire the Arts and Crafts detailing. The arch over the font has raised plasterwork. Foliage trails adorn it. Below, a lead dado displays a zig-zag vine trail. Swimming fish add a whimsical touch.
Don’t miss the chancel screen. It has ornate vaulting and sumptuous tracery. A crown-like structure supports a cross. The high altar reredos depicts the Nativity. It also shows the angel appearing to the Marys at the Tomb.
Christ Church, Sutton, has seen many changes over the years. The BBC program “Songs of Praise” was broadcast from here in 1980. It reached an audience of 5 million.
Today, Christ Church, Sutton, continues to be a vibrant part of the community. It stands as a testament to faith, architecture, and the enduring spirit of Sutton. Take a moment to appreciate the history. Reflect on the generations who have passed through these doors. Christ Church, Sutton, is more than just a building. It is a living story.