Christ Church, Fulwood, Sheffield

Summary

Christ Church Fulwood is a large conservative evangelical Anglican parish church of the Church of England situated in Fulwood, Sheffield, England. The Revd Canon Paul Williams was vicar at Christ Church from 2006 to 2021.[1]

Christ Church, Fulwood
Christ Church, Fulwood is located in Sheffield
Christ Church, Fulwood
Christ Church, Fulwood
53°21′55″N 1°32′33″W / 53.365291°N 1.542377°W / 53.365291; -1.542377
OS grid referenceSK 30548 85466
LocationSheffield, South Yorkshire
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
TraditionConservative evangelical
Websitefulwoodchurch.co.uk
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Sheffield
ArchdeaconryArchdeaconry of Sheffield and Rotherham
DeaneryHallam
Clergy
Bishop(s)The Rt Revd Rob Munro (AEO)
Vicar(s)The Revd J. W. Dyer
Minister(s)Pete Scamman (associate vicar)
Matthew Lawes
Laity
Churchwarden(s)Emily Davies, Bill Thomas

History edit

Christ Church, Fulwood, was built on a piece of land known locally as "Round Stubbing". It was endowed by Phoebe Silcock of Whiteley Wood Hall who donated the land and gave £2,200 for the construction of the church. The transportation of the stone was done gratuitously by local farmers. The first stone was laid on 16 August 1837 by the Reverend W. V. Bagshawe.[2] The Fulwood parish was created in 1839, being the largest in Sheffield covering 19 square miles, taking in large areas of moorland extending out to Stanage Edge and Ringinglow. The church registers date from 1838 for baptisms, 1839 for burials and 1851 for marriages.[3]

The church was originally built by R. Potter. In 1953 a south aisle designed by George Pace was added and the east end and chancel were extended. A new vestry and choir vestry were also added. In 1981 a north aisle, north gallery, rear stairs and turrets were added, designed by Ronald Sims. It became Grade II listed on 28 June 1973.[4]

The land for the first vicarage in Stumperlowe Lane was again donated by Phoebe Silcock with the cost of construction being covered by public subscription in 1839. Silcock's generosity was remembered in the church's original east window which represented acts of charity. The window was removed during the 1953 enlargement and there is now a copper tablet near the pulpit commemorating Silcock as the foundress of the church.[5]

Present edit

The church holds three services on Sundays, at 9 am, 11.00 am and 6.30 pm, which include facilities for babies, children, teenagers, students and internationals.[6] Students meet midweek for bible studies at "Students at 7", which takes place each week during term time.[7] A large number of the congregation also meet midweek in homes for small group Bible study.

Many regular activities also take place throughout the week including baby and toddler groups, children's and youth clubs, bereavement care, the Christianity Explored course and a "Friday Club" lunch for senior citizens.

Christ Church Fulwood's most popular annual event is the Carols by Candlelight services held each December.[8]

Christ Church is within the conservative evangelical tradition of the Church of England, and consequently it has passed resolutions to reject the ordination of women and/or female leadership.[9] It's teaching include an "orthodox view on human sexuality" and complementarian roles for men and women.[10] The parish receives alternative episcopal oversight (AEO), formerly from the Bishop of Maidstone[11] and now from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet (currently Rob Munro).[12] During the 2022 installation of its new vicar, the Bishop of Sheffield and the Archdeacon of Sheffield were disinvited, with the installation being undertaken solely by Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone.[13]

List of vicars edit

  • Jonny Dyer (2022–present)
  • Paul Williams (2006–2021)
  • Hugh Palmer (1997–2005). Until 2020 rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place[14]
  • Philip Hacking (1969–1997)
  • Ian Douglas-Jones (1963–1969)
  • Laurence Philipps "Laurie" Sheath[15]
  • Lawrence Christian Peto (1922–1938[16])
  • Henry Brooke Worthington (1916–1922[16])
  • James White Merryweather (1912–1916[17])
  • Edmund "John" Howe Hewlett (1877–1911[18])
  • Edmund Boteler Chalmer (1844–1877[19])
  • Richard Walker (1837-1844[20])

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Christ Church Fulwood – Who we are – People". Fulwoodchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Fulwood Parish Church Home Tried Recipe Book", December 1935, no ISBN, page 4. Gives history of Fulwood Church
  3. ^ "Sheffield & District Family History Society". Sheffieldfhs.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Christ Church – Sheffield – Sheffield – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. ^ "More Of Mayfield Valley With Old Fulwood", Muriel Hall, J.W. Northend, 1974, No ISBN, Pages 4 -6 Gives historical details of church.
  6. ^ "Christ Church Fulwood – Canterbury Avenue, Sheffield S10 3RT". Fulwoodchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Christ Church Fulwood – Carols by Candlelight". Fulwoodchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Christmas 2016 Newsletter" (PDF). bishopofmaidstone.org. Bishop of Maidstone. December 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Christ Church Fulwood: Parish Profiel" (PDF). Christ Church Fulwood. March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022. We have an orthodox view on human sexuality and take a complementarian view of the role of men and women. The PCC has passed a resolution asking the Bishop of Sheffield to make provision for us under the terms of the House of Bishops' Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests. As a result, we receive the extended episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Maidstone
  11. ^ "Parishes". The Bishop of Maidstone. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Parishes". The Bishop of Ebbsfleet. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. ^ Ashworth, Pat (21 October 2022). "Christ Church, Fulwood, to 'build strong partnership' with diocese". Church Times. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  14. ^ "All Souls, Langham Place : Staff and Leadership". Allsouls.org. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  15. ^ "The London Gazette : 13 September 1955" (PDF). London-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Fulwood Parish Church Home Tried Recipe Book", December 1935, no ISBN, pages 5–6. Gives history of Fulwood Church
  17. ^ "MossValley: Chap 6/Pt 1, Fifty Years of Sheffield Church Life 1866–1916, by Rev William Odom". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Edmund "John" Howe Hewlett 1840". Ghgraham.org. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  19. ^ Royle, Edward; Larsen, Ruth M. (2006). Archbishop Thomson's Visitation Returns for the Diocese of York, 1865 – Church of England. Diocese of York. Archbishop (1862–1890 : Thomson) – Google Books. Borthwick Publications. ISBN 9781904497172. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  20. ^ "2 Vicars". Stlukecrosby.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2013.