In 1821 the name Ellesmere Port did not exist, it was the village of Whitby, in the parish of Eastham. The first church in the area was built in 1846 it was called Christ Church; it was built because the locals had too far to travel to Eastham to attend church. However, by 1868 it was already too small to hold the amount of people living in the area due to the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal. The second church was also called Christ Church, but known locally as the parish church and was constructed in 1869 costing #2,900. It was built of stone, in the early decorated style with a turreted tower containing one bell. The second church was constructed closer to Station Road than the original church. It was consecrated (mad holy) by Bishop Jacobson on the 16th of May 1871. It could hold 330 people.
The church continued to be used regularly, and even had a cenotaph with the names of the soldiers that were killed in both world wars.
In 1992 the church diocese decided to close the Christ Church due to falling congregations. It was decided that in order to save money the church would be closed and the parishioners would be moved to St. Thomas' Church, in Whitby, which was more central, due to the expansion and re-development of the town. When, once Christ Church was in the centre of the town it was now on the outskirts.
When the closure was announced many locals campaigned to stop the church being closed. They felt it should be kept open as it was the oldest parish church in Ellesmere Port and it was little things like that, which made up the towns history and character. They did not have the same feelings for St. Thomas' church. At the time people wrote into the local newspaper complaining that the decision to close the church was made before the local people were consulted, and that they did not agree with it, but felt that nothing they could do or say would reverse the situation.
Years after the closure of the church the local council decided to reduce the maintenance of the church grounds, saving #2000 a year. Local ex-servicemen complained to the council about their decision as Christ church cemetery contains the graves of twenty-four men who fought in the world war, all of whom had lived in Ellesmere Port, and some of them died of wounds received during fighting in France.
The council plan has led to fears among old soldiers that the war graves will become neglected; Alan Gregson of the Cheshire Regiment Association said "The soldiers buried there are all local lads and the cemetery should be kept clean and tidy as a mark of respect. They gave their lives for our freedom". Ernie Innes, Ellesmere Port branch vice-president of the Royal British Legion believes ex-servicemen would volunteer to help. Ken Hill, head of Borough's environmental health, responded by saying "Before the council took over responsibility for the grave-yard the standard of maintenance was not very good. We have put in substantial improvements since then. But now the council is under severe financial restraint and, although there will be a reduction in grass cutting at the back of the cemetery; the intention is still to provide a good standard of maintenance.
Local people would like the church put to another use instead of just being left to rot. They have asked the council to consider making it into a visitor's centre, so people could visit it for its historical importance, therefore paying for its upkeep and improvements as they have with the redevelopment of the Old Docks and the Boat Museum.
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O.S. Map of 1881 showing Christchurch and vicarage (click to enlarge)
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