Christ Church is a church and local ecumenical partnership in Nelson, Lancashire, England. It is situated on Carr Road in the town centre. The building has been shared by the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Roman Catholic Church since 2004 – a rare example of an ecumenical union between Methodists and Roman Catholics.[1]

Christ Church
The church in 2008
Map
53°50′11.8″N 2°12′59.9″W / 53.836611°N 2.216639°W / 53.836611; -2.216639
LocationCarr Rd, Nelson, Lancashire
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationMethodist Church of Great Britain
Roman Catholic Church
WebsiteCatholic Directory
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Grimshaw & Townsend
Completed2004 (shared church building)
Administration
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Salford

The Catholic congregation which meets in the church is the successor to the first mission in Nelson, dedicated to St Joseph, which used three successive church buildings. The Catholics began sharing a now-demolished building with the Methodists in 2001, construction of the Carr Road premises began in 2002, and it was opened on 6 June 2004 by Bishop Terence Brain.[2] In 2019 a ceremony, attended by leaders from each denomination, was held to renew the "covenant" between the two traditions.[1] The church is active and used for Methodist services and Catholic masses.[3][4]

The church building is constructed with a steel frame and concrete blocks, faced in local stone and with a slate roof. It has stained glass windows and banners with a bifurcate theme.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Collis, Dominic (2 December 2019). "Nelson Methodists and Catholics reaffirm ties in shared church". Burnley Express. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Nelson - Christ Church". Taking Stock. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Christ Church". directory.cbcew.org.uk. The Catholic Directory. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Christ Church". Burnley and Pendle Methodist Circuit. Retrieved 24 January 2021.