‘The projects to discover and renew Christ Church, Bradford-on-Avon, are outstanding examples of what can be done when community service and involvement, generous charity and great local leadership combine.' Bishop Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury
Discover Christ Church! was a National Lottery Heritage funded community project that explored, restored and celebrated the rich Victorian heritage of the Grade 2* listed Christ Church in Bradford on Avon.
The 36-month project encompassed a programme of community-based activities intertwined with the heritage and restoration of the building, including activities inspired by the wall paintings, stencilled patterns, floor tiles, stained glass windows, organ and stone carvings, as well as the biodiversity of the churchyard.
The project worked closely with many local partners, including schools and community groups such as Bradford on Avon Youth and Dementia Action Alliance. They, along with congregation members and an army of volunteers, played a key role not only in the initial project consultation but also in contributing ideas that informed the development of the programme of community activities. The project has provided Christ Church with a lasting legacy, with many of the coproduced community activities continuing beyond the life of the project.
Discover Christ Church! ran in parallel with its sister Future for Christ Church project that provided for the first time a kitchen, toilets and flexible spaces for worship and community use. Funding for the latter proved a real challenge to secure, but, after many grant applications, thanks to nine different grant giving bodies funding was finally secured and the new amenities delivered immediately after completion of the restoration works, with the final months of Discover Christ Church!’s programme of community activities delivered with the ‘luxury’ of onsite toilets, a kitchen and space to move!
Together, these projects have made a huge difference to Christ Church, with comments on how it has been ‘lifted’ and feels so welcoming and alive.
Below you can read the full evaluation report produced by the Discover Christ Church! team at the end of the project for The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which you can also download here.
On 29 April 2026, the team behind the Discover Christ Church! project held an event to share their experiences. You can view their presentation from the day below, or download it here.
With thanks to all our funders and supporters:
