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Gunnerton St Christopher

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Gunnerton Church was designed by John C. Hawes who was later to become an Anglican and then Roman Catholic priest, and in a later stage of his life, a hermit. 

His built architectural works are to be found in Western Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Bahamas.
This church is designed in the Arts and Crafts style, with six high candles behind the altar.  It is also used for community meetings and events, being the only public building in the village.

The "British Architect" of 15th March 1901 describes Gunnerton Church as a "more than usually interesting village church". It is in the English traditional style, and it has hardly been altered.  It is of special architectural and historic interest and Hawes' work has recently been the subject of a study by John Taylor, an Australian architect.

In February 1898 Hawes had started work on the model of an imaginary church: it was placed on display in the foyer of the Royal Academy in London, and it was judged to be of "outstanding quality".  The publicity was to bring him his first commission - a new church at Gunnerton for the then vicar of Chollerton, Bishop Hornby, who was to become Bishop of Nassau. Hawes commented in 1948 that "my village church is as good as I ever did".

The church is Grade 2 listed.  It is a chapel of ease to Chollerton St Giles.  There is one small bell in its cote which is rung to call people to worship God.

We hire the church for local social events and meetings because it also doubles as our village hall.  Each session (morning, afternoon or evening) is charged at £15 including electricity, heating if necessary and use of the kitchen and toilet. The church is open at all times.

Ordnance Survey Map reference: NY 905 750
UK Post Code: NE48 4AU
Grid Reference: 55deg04’08.37”N 2deg09’02.37”W  
Elevation: 109m
Howard Snaith bus service 882 runs past the church.


Our worship

Worship takes place every other Sunday at 9.00am.  Services last about 45 minutes.  We pride ourselves with our welcome. 
Normally our services are Church of England Rite One Holy Communion, with hymns from Hymns Old and New.
If you normally receive communion (bread and wine) when you go to church you are welcome to receive it here too and that applies to people of all ages.  We do not prepare children for communion before confirmation here but respect the needs and expectations of those children who have been prepared.  For children who simply come for a blessing the Vicar offers a chocolate button to each.
We have four hymns accompanied by a piano, a sermon of about 10 minutes duration within the service.
Children and families are very welcome at our services and there is a creche with quiet toys for them and their adults to play with.  
Our church has a disabled access toilet.  Access to the church with wheelchairs is possible without the assistance of a carer.  It is not possible for people in wheelchairs to come to the altar rail for Communion (there are two steps) but the Vicar will bring the sacrament to you in the nave should you wish.
We do not have a sound system because the church is small but anyway the Vicar has a strong voice!  
Dogs with well-behaved owners are very welcome to our services.
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