The Parish of Wanstead has launched Inspire Wanstead, a campaign to restore Christ Church and increase community use, although Revd James Gilder insists some parts of the building remain untouched
June was an exciting month for Christ Church, as the Parish launched its Inspire Wanstead campaign to restore the church building and make it more user-friendly for you, the local community.
After much campaigning and work behind the scenes, we are delighted to say we were successful in achieving a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to develop our project. The NLHF is the largest grant-making body for heritage buildings in the UK and has chosen to provide initial funding for us to engage architects and project managers to take this project forward to the point where it is ‘ready to go’. In late 2027, the NLHF will make the final decision as to whether to fund the whole project, the cost of which is a staggering £3.6m (for which we must raise at least 10% ourselves).
Unfortunately, the Victorians didn’t do a great job of building Christ Church’s tower; its supports and buttresses aren’t big enough to hold its weight and they are gradually slipping away from the building. So, we need to make sure that this, and various other elements of the building’s exterior, are made secure to withstand the next century.
Christ Church is presently a somewhat dark and cold building, so the first thing we need to do inside is to install some better heating and lighting. We would also like to level the sinking floor and install proper toilets and a kitchen at the back of the church. Much like our friends at Wanstead United Reformed Church did some years ago, we would like to make the space in Christ Church usable by community groups during times when we are not holding services, so we need flexible but beautiful furniture to allow us to do that. However, much will also not be changing. The chancel and its wonderful oak choir stalls and pulpit, and the beautiful and unique English altar, are all gems – remove them over my dead body! As our esteemed architect (who is also architect for three English cathedrals) said at the project launch in early June, change is always a part of historic buildings; it’s about preserving the good and improving the rest. And we’ll be working closely with English Heritage, obtaining all the necessary permissions to ensure everything is done with the utmost care for the historic fabric of the church.
In addition to the above, we’ll be running a range of heritage activities and workshops for people to get involved in over the next few years. There’ll be lots going on and I’m excited at the opportunity to bring you further news as it happens. Thanks to those of you who’ve helped us thus far, and thanks too if you play the National Lottery! As a vicar, I shouldn’t endorse gambling, but even if you haven’t won the jackpot, you have at least helped preserve Wanstead’s heritage.
For more information on Christ Church and the Inspire Wanstead project, visit wansteadparish.org
