Church Micro 5384...Swansea - Christ Church Traditional Cache
Church Micro 5384...Swansea - Christ Church
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Another in our series of Church Micros in the South Wales area.
Not within the Church precincts, so please don't search in the grounds.
On road parking available in side streets, stealth will be required. BYOP and tweezers.
During the 1860s the town of Swansea was rapidly expanding westwards and this area was known as the ‘Sandfields’ probably due to its close proximity to the sea. The only Church available to meet the spiritual needs of the people was St Mary’s.
J W Clarke Esq was a well-known merchant in the town and he readily agreed to meet the whole cost of building a new Church including the furniture and fittings after being approached by the then Vicar of St Mary’s the Rev. E B Squires, the total cost turned out to be £2,800, a large sum in those days. He made one demand that there would be ‘Free Sittings’ in the church and so Christ Church was the first to introduce these in Swansea.
The Corporation gave the ground and plans drawn up by Mr Nicholson of Hereford, who had also designed St James’ Church in Swansea. Due to the shape of the ground available, the Church could not be built with the Altar in the East as is customary in all other Churches so Christ Church was built with the Altar in the North, so it is unique in this respect. The Foundation Stone was laid on 28th June 1871, the ceremony performed by Mrs Squires, the wife of the Vicar of St Mary’s.
View down the side of the Church showing three of the Memorial Stones.
Christ Church has long been regarded as the Garrison Church of Swansea, and there are many indications of this Military connection in the Church. There are two large brass tablets on the wall recording the names of the Men of this Parish who fell in the 1914-18 war, and also the Officers and Men of the 6th Welsh Regiment who were also killed during those years. There are the Standards of many Regiments displayed in Christ Church, including the Royal Engineers Association, the Normandy Veterans, The Burma Star Association, The Welsh Field Regiment and The Royal British Legion among others. In fact, the heavy oak doors to the Church Entrance were a gift from The Old Comrades of The Royal Engineers in memory of their fallen friends.
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp, onpx bs TO
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