God is not an idea or a concept; he is personal. He is big, powerful and living. He can speak for himself, and he has done so in Jesus. Jesus reveals God to us. We can know Jesus in the Bible, as God’s Holy Spirit brings his truth into our hearts and minds. Knowing Jesus is the way to receive the full, everlasting life of God. Knowing Jesus is what joins us together from all sorts of different backgrounds and nationalities to make up one family, the church.

We are an evangelical Anglican church. ‘Evangelical’ means that the good news of Jesus is at the centre of all we do, and we let what God says in the Bible direct us and shape us as a church and as individuals. ‘Anglican’ means that we are a part of the Church of England. You don’t have to be from an Anglican or an evangelical background to join us, however. Just come and join in and see for yourself. And feel free to question anything we do.

"After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"

At Christ Church, we talk about ourselves as the church family, as we are all God’s children. 

We live this in our worship and prayer and in our daily lives. For example, our Sunday services always include a slot for ‘family news’, where we can talk about what’s happening. 

As a London church, we reflect and celebrate the diversity of Jesus’ followers. Our congregation comprises people from all over Barnet, all over London, the UK and worldwide. 

Some have followed Jesus all their lives; others are hearing his word for the first time. Some are very young; others are much older. Some may feel blessed, and others at a moment of suffering. 

What unites us is that we are each cradled in God’s love, forgiven by Jesus’ death on the cross, and promised a place beside him in glory. 

Come along and become part of the family!

It was a time of significant change for the area, following the incorporation of Ballards Lane into a turnpike route in 1825 and the arrival of railways in the locality in 1867.

Henry was responsible for constructing the first church building, which was a temporary corrugated iron building located on a site immediately to the south of the current building. However, he did not confine his preaching to this building. He frequently visited and preached in the open air, including in front of the Post Office in East Finchley. However, Henry soon turned his attention to fundraising for constructing a permanent building. On 26 July 1867, the foundation stone of the present building was laid.

The church building was designed by the architect John Norton and is based on the mediaeval Gothic styles of the pre-Reformation era and Gothic revivalist design. The first part of the church to be completed was the nave, consecrated on 9 April 1869, which incorporates a beautiful rose window. Henry Stephens was inaugurated as the first Vicar of Christ Church in 1872.

The rest of the building was completed in stages as funds permitted. The first addition was the north aisle, completed in 1874, followed by the south aisle in 1880. Work on the chancel and vestries began in 1891, including installing an organ in 1881. Plans were laid for full transepts and a substantive tower with a spire, but these were never built. As early as 1885, there were reports that the church was cold in winter. Substantial effort was made to remedy this, including the building of a porch on the west end to cut down the draughts that regularly swept through the building in winter. 

Reverend Stephens also founded Christ Church School (now Wren Academy) and the nearby St Barnabas Church. 

A consolidated chapelry was assigned from the mother parish, St. John's, Whetstone, and Holy Trinity, in 1872. The patronage was vested in trustees, including the rector, who had given glebeland for the site, and later exercised by the Church Patronage Society. As funds became available with the support of wealthy parishioners like the Hamiltons, additions were made to the building. On one Sunday in 1903, when there were 700 sittings, 237 people attended in the morning and 314 in the afternoon. 

By 1899 two curates helped to run a memorial hall and library in High Road (in memory of Henry Stephens, who died in 1898); an institute in Percy Road (c. 1899); missions at Holden Road (1885-1909 - later St Barnabas Church) and Summers Lane (1906-60). In 1938 the original hall was sold, and a new Stephens Memorial Hall was built behind the church. The sizeable Victorian vicarage next to the church survived in 1977

Catherine Ironside

Christ Church has always been a sender and supporter of missionaries across the UK and the rest of the world and is now a notably diverse congregation comprising many nationalities.

Vicar & Curate

David Walker is the vicar of Christ Church. Dave moved to Christ Church in January 2011, before which he was curate at All Hallows Cheadle near Stockport. Dave trained at Oak Hill Theological College where he is now a part-time lecturer. Previously he studied zoology, and this has helped him appreciate God's wonderful creation, especially dragonflies. He also likes bikes. Dave and Sarah were married at Christ Church 20 years ago, after which they spent a year serving in mission work in Bolivia, and Sarah continues to actively share in ministry with Dave. Together Dave & Sarah have three growing children. 

Alex Williams who was ordained on 1st July 2024 has joined us as a Curate for three years.

PCC

Our churchwardens are Mike Barkway and John Haruna, and church secretary Christine Cooper is also the deputy churchwarden. Ronnie Mathews is the church treasurer. Annie Nichols is responsible for safeguarding. Maggie Thorp leads the ministry to children & young people. Belinda & Jodie Willett are involved with the administration of the church hall. Tony Afuwape, Kelly Dimbga and Annie Nichols are also PCC members.