{{Use British English|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox church | name = Christ Church | full_name = | image = Christ Church, Wesham.jpg | image_size = | imagelink = | alt =

| caption = Christ Church from Garstang Road North | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Borough of Fylde | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_mapsize = | map_caption = Location in the Borough of Fylde

| coordinates = {{Coord|53.7903|-2.8855|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}} | osgraw = SD 41762 33024 | location = [[Wesham]], [[Lancashire]] | country = England | denomination = [[Anglican]]

| founded = 1893–94 | founder = | dedication =

| status = [[Church of England parish church|Parish church]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = Grade II | designated = 11 June 1986 | architect = [[Austin, Paley and Austin]]<br />[[Austin and Paley]] | architectural_type = Decorated [[Perpendicular style|Perpendicular]] | style = | groundbreaking = | completed = | construction_cost = £3,350 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|3350|1894|{{Inflation-year|UK}}|r=-4}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}) | deanery = Kirkham | archdeaconry = Lancaster | diocese = [[Diocese of Blackburn|Blackburn]] | province = [[Province of York|York]] | vicar = Jono Peatman (Curate-in-Charge) }} '''Christ Church''' is an [[Anglican]] church in [[Wesham]], a small town in the English county of [[Lancashire]]. It is an active [[Church of England parish church|parish church]] in the [[Diocese of Blackburn]] and the [[archdeaconry]] of Lancaster. It was built 1893–94 by [[Paley, Austin and Paley]], and is recorded in the [[National Heritage List for England]] as a designated Grade&nbsp;II [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed building]].

==History and administration== Building of the church started in 1893–94, but at this time the east end was not included. The church was designed by the [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]]-based architecture firm of [[Paley, Austin and Paley]]. The church provided seating for 229&nbsp;people, and cost £3,350 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|4000|1894|{{Inflation-year|UK}}|r=-4}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}{{sfn|Brandwood|Austin|Hughes|Price|2012|p=240}} In 1927–28, the east end was completed, a south porch was added, and the nave was reseated, increasing the seating to 317. This was carried out by [[Henry Paley]], trading as [[Austin and Paley]], and cost £5,650.{{sfn|Brandwood|Austin|Hughes|Price|2012|p=251}}

The church was used as a [[chapel-of-ease]] to Kirkham until 1913, when it was made a separate parish. The foundation stone was laid on 30 June 1892, by the Lady E. C. Clifton, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Moorhouse on 27 September 1894.

On 11 June 1986, Christ Church was designated a Grade II [[listed building]] by [[English Heritage]].<ref name=EH /> The Grade II designation—the third highest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest".<ref name=ListedBuildings /> An active church in the [[Church of England]], Christ Church is part of the [[diocese of Blackburn]], which is in the [[Province of York]]. It is in the [[archdeaconry]] of Lancaster and the [[Deanery]] of Kirkham. It forms a [[Benefice#Church of England|benefice]] with Christ Church, [[Treales]].<ref name=Dioceseparish />

2013 saw a concert by the singer [[Graham Kendrick]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk/blog/graham-s-diary/24/event_details#.Ua0fGECfjSw |title=An Evening with Graham Kendrick – Preston |publisher=.grahamkendrick.co.uk/ |year=2013 |access-date=3 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516060000/http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk/blog/graham-s-diary/24/event_details#.Ua0fGECfjSw |archive-date=16 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Between December 2017 and February 2024 the vicar was Rev Anne Beverley.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/clergy-moves |title=Clergy Moves &#124; the Diocese of Blackburn |access-date=17 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218025808/https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/clergy-moves |archive-date=18 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/clergy-moves-and-news|title=Clergy Moves and News &#124; The Diocese of Blackburn|website=www.blackburn.anglican.org}}</ref> In 2021, during the [[British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic#First national lockdown|COVID-19 national lockdown]], a [[TikTok]] post by Beverley, intended for seven local teenagers, was viewed by 1.7 million people around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchofengland.org/media/stories-and-features/it-was-ridiculous-how-vicars-tiktok-meant-seven-teenagers-reached-17|title=‘It was ridiculous!’ How vicar’s TikTok meant for seven teenagers reached 1.7 million|website=The Church of England}}</ref>

In June 2025 it was announced that the vicar would be soon-to-be Deacon Jono Peatman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/community/jono-one-of-22-new-priests-and-deacons-in-lancashire-tells-his-story-as-part-of-new-video-series-5198867|title=Jono, one of 22 new Priests and Deacons in Lancashire, tells his story as part of new video series|date=26 June 2025|website=Blackpool Gazette}}</ref>

==Architecture== Christ Church is in the Decorated [[Perpendicular style]] and is constructed of red brick with [[ashlar|dressings]] in red [[terracotta]].<ref name=Hartwell /> The roof is red tile. The church plan consists of a nave and chancel under one roof, with a steeple to the south-west.<ref name=EH /> The tower is of three stages and has a stepped sandstone [[parapet]]; the steeple is clad in green [[slate]].<ref name=EH /><ref name=Hartwell />

The nave has six [[bay (architecture)|bay]]s and internally there are stone [[pier (architecture)|pier]]s.<ref name=Hartwell /> The chancel has a large east window with mouchette [[tracery]].<ref name=EH />

==External features== The churchyard contains the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission|war graves]] of two soldiers of [[World War I]], and four soldiers and a [[Royal Navy]] [[Military chaplain#United Kingdom|chaplain]] of [[World War II]].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/40516/WESHAM%20%28CHRIST%20CHURCH%29%20CHURCHYARD| title = WESHAM (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD| access-date =13 February 2013| publisher = [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]}}</ref> There is also a memorial to the paupers of the Wesham Workhouse.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Christ Church, Wesham - tower (1).JPG|Tower from the south File:Wesham Workhouse Paupers Memorial.JPG|Memorial stone to the Wesham Workhouse paupers </gallery>

==See also== {{portal|Lancashire}} *[[Listed buildings in Medlar-with-Wesham]] *[[List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley]] *[[List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1916–44)]]

==References== '''Citations''' {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=EH>{{NHLE | desc = Christ Church | num = 1072028 | access-date =3 October 2011 |mode = cs2 }}</ref> <ref name=Hartwell>[[#Hartwell|Hartwell & Pevsner (2009)]], pp. 684–85</ref> <ref name=ListedBuildings>{{Citation |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings/ |title=Listed Buildings |access-date=18 October 2011 |work=National Heritage List for England |publisher=English Heritage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126151823/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings |archive-date=26 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> <ref name=Dioceseparish>{{Citation | title = Church Details: Wesham Christ Church | work = blackburn.anglican.org | publisher = Diocese of Blackburn | url = http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/parish.asp?theid=98253 | access-date = 18 October 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120405133023/http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/parish.asp?theid=98253 | archive-date = 5 April 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

}}

'''Sources''' {{Refbegin}} *{{Citation | last1 = Brandwood| first1 = Geoff| last2 = Austin| first2 = Tim| last3 = Hughes| first3 = John| last4 = Price| first4 = James| year = 2012| title = The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin| publication-place = Swindon| publisher = [[English Heritage]]| isbn = 978-1-84802-049-8}} *{{Citation | last1 = Hartwell | first1 = Clare | last2 = Pevsner | first2 = Nikolaus | author2-link = Nikolaus Pevsner | title = [[Pevsner Architectural Guides|Lancashire: North]] | publisher = [[Yale University Press]] | location = New Haven and London | year = 2009 | orig-year = 1969 | isbn = 978-0-300-12667-9 | ref = Hartwell}} {{Refend}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Christ Church, Wesham}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111013132634/http://www.wesham.org.uk/OTHERGROUPS/christchurch.html "Christ Church Wesham" at wesham.org.uk]

{{Lancashire churches|II|state=collapsed}} {{Borough of Fylde buildings}} {{Deanery of Kirkham churches}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wesham, Christ Church}} [[Category:Churches in the Borough of Fylde|Christ Church, Wesham]] [[Category:Church of England church buildings in Lancashire]] [[Category:Diocese of Blackburn]] [[Category:Grade II listed churches in Lancashire]] [[Category:Paley, Austin and Paley buildings]]