Report - Christ Church, Kensington (Liverpool, Sept, 2017)

[urbanchemist]

This listed church is a local landmark because of its prominent tower - we call it the 'Kenyan baby exchange' - and I cycle past it every day.

History from wikipedia: Christ Church was built as an Anglican parish church in 1870, and designed by W. & G. Audsley. It closed as an Anglican church in 1975, and was then used for storage [the bloke in one of the houses overlooking the church told me that it was used to store antiques for export to the US]. Since 2002 it has been used by the Gilbert Deya Ministries.

Now this Gilbert Deya is a pretty unsavoury character who has finally been extradited to Kenya to face child abduction charges (hence our nickname - the story was in the news quite recently).

So one day I decided to have an explore, even though I knew most the fittings have been removed. This was a spur of the moment thing and I was poorly prepared, armed only with a camera with a dying battery and no torch, not even a phone one.

Despite some vandalism, its not in too bad a state, although some extra rooms have been added on platforms inside the isles. Sadly the tower above the main entrance proved inaccessible without a long ladder.

The byzantine capitals on the columns (mentioned in wikipedia) all have different designs - some of the cornicing is nice too.

Not much of obvious interest in the extra rooms, except for some bizarre literature and videos. Apologies for the quality of these shots - it was fairly dark and I was shooting blind with the flash. Might have investigated further had I been able to read the titles.

This room is presumably where the magic happened

Words to live by on the Carnegie library next door.

 

[moz88]

Nice red brick arches there. Should be spending a weekend in Liverpool before the years out, will add this to the list.. looking forward to it

 

[The Man In Black]

Nice report didnt know of this one in liverpool

 

[The Man In Black]

ah I did know of this one forgot to check it out after I found out it was the same guy who owned hulme theatre

 

[skgogosfan]

Before they cleaned it off,there was graffiti on the library that made the quote "and Bacon a fat man" lol.

Thanks for posting this up - there's some really great architecture and stained glass in there! I went in a long time ago when it was Swainbanks furniture but can't remember much other than it was dark and gloomy.

Since the OP it's been taken over by another religious group,Gold House Ministry,who have done it up a bit and painted the back doors gold. There was also some scaffolding part-way up the tower recently but it wasn't clear what for.

Dave.

 

[urbanchemist]

Before they cleaned it off,there was graffiti on the library that made the quote "and Bacon a fat man" lol.

Thanks for posting this up - there's some really great architecture and stained glass in there! I went in a long time ago when it was Swainbanks furniture but can't remember much other than it was dark and gloomy.

Since the OP it's been taken over by another religious group,Gold House Ministry,who have done it up a bit and painted the back doors gold. There was also some scaffolding part-way up the tower recently but it wasn't clear what for.

Dave.

I did wander in for a look just after the present group had taken it over but not much had changed.
I imagine it will eventually be converted, like St Cyprians on Edge Lane.