Christ Church, Spitalfields
Christ Church, Spitalfields
Christ Church is a Grade I English Baroque parish church on Commercial Street, Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the Diocese of London.
- Location
- Spitalfields, Greater London
- Country
- England
- County
- Greater London
- City / town
- Spitalfields
- Address
- Commercial Street, Spitalfields, Greater London, E1 6LY
- Postcode
- E1 6LY
- Built
- 1714–29
- Consecrated
- 1729
- Architect
- Nicholas Hawksmoor
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Christ
- Diocese
- London
- Parish
- Christ Church Spitalfields
- Grade
- I
- Style
- English Baroque
- Materials
- White ashlar (tower and spire); Portland stone
- Grid reference
- TQ 337 817
- Opening hours
- The church is open: Sunday from 1pm to 4pm with services at 11am and 5pm.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Accessible toilets nearby. Level access to the main areas. Non-accessible toilets in church
- Website
- http://ccspits.org/
Overview
Historic England lists the church as 1723–29 by Nicholas Hawksmoor, with a white ashlar tower and spire that dominate Spitalfields and a western portico of four giant Tuscan columns. Survey of London records that foundations were begun in 1714, the foundation stone was laid in 1715, and the church was consecrated in July 1729 at a cost of about £40,000. It was one of six churches Hawksmoor designed as surveyor to the Commissioners for Building Fifty New Churches under the Act of 1711, and one of three he designed for new parishes taken out of St Dunstan, Stepney.
The listing notes a central semi-circular arch repeated in the facade below the tower. Restoration after near-dereliction in the late twentieth century returned the nave to use; the Friends of Christ Church Spitalfields was formed in 1976, services resumed in 1987, and the main restoration was completed in 2004. The church stands with eighteenth-century white stone gate piers to the churchyard.