Life at Christ Church: 1893 to 1920
Mission Church of St James
In 1898 the Mission Room on the Kingston Road was enlarged. In 1903, a second Mission Church, called St James, was built on Burlington Road to serve the growing estate in that area (shown below).
A separate parish for St James’ was established in 1929 and a new church built in 1932-33 on the junction of Bodley Rd and Malden Rd. This involved some controversy but enabled the provision of a more Anglo-Catholic form of worship for those wanting this in New Malden.
The establishment of the PCC at Christ Church
The first Parochial Church Council at Christ Church was established in 1897. Until that point the administration and finances of a parish were the legal responsibility of the incumbent and Churchwardens. Members had little say in such matters, other than electing the wardens.
The establishment of the PCC was apparently accompanied by a degree of concern from members of Christ Church. In defence of ‘this new and dangerous thing’, Allen Challacombe felt the need to show that it was neither a ‘revolution’ nor an indication that the Vicar and Churchwardens were ‘incompetent to fulfil the respective duties which belong to their office’. Instead the Vicar argued it was as dangerous as ‘ladies…taking to cycling’ and an acknowledgement ‘…that there may be other gentlemen…whose counsel, sympathy, and general help would enable them to carry on the work of the church in the parish’. PCCs became mandatory within the Church of England in 1919.
Atkinson Bachhoffner
It was during this period that Atkinson Bachhoffner began a tenure a Churchwarden that would become the third longest in the history of Christ Church lasting from 1908 down to 1933. Atkinson's wife Edith died at the age of 52 in 1907 meaning that he served all this period as a widower. The first Parish History speaks of his 'always-beneficent countenance, and natural kindliness' and describes him as 'a generous and unassuming soul'. Atkinson Bachhoffner died at the age of 83 in 1937, four years after stepping down as Churchwarden and is buried with Edith at Kingston Cemetery.
Elizabeth Katherine Bunn
A ministry of great longevity began during this period. Mrs Elizabeth Katherine Bunn became Superintendant of the Sunday School for 3½-8 year olds for in 1909 and continued in that role until 1955! (an incredible 46 years!). ‘Mrs Bunn’s Sunday School’ met in the Parish Room at 3.00 pm on a Sunday afternoon. She died at the age of 81 in March 1964. A font (first at the head of the north aisle and from 1981 in the south aisle) and a stained glass window were dedicated to her memory in 1965.
The window depicts the story of Mary and Martha with Jesus from Luke 10.38-42.
From the Edwardian Era to the Eve of War
Photos from the Edwardian era to the eve of the First World War include a number of Vicarage Garden parties, which were a regular feature during this time. Whilst plenty of effort was placed by the church in caring for those who were poor, these were generally occasions for the wealthier women members of Christ Church to enjoy.
The one below dates from 19 June 1908, where the younger girls took part in maypole dancing watched by their parents.
At such occasions a good deal of deference was shown to wealthy benefactors of the church such as Mrs Mary Bevan. A ‘guest of honour’ was often present and Mrs Challacombe would also have a certain prominence.
We also have three photos dating from 16 July 1910.
The photo below is from a garden party held in June 1913.
A further photo dates from 30th June 1914, two days after the assassination of the Archduke of Austro-Hungary and captures something of the atmosphere of 1914 as people took advantage of the unusually warm weather to distract them from the approach of war.
The photo below, of a Church Parade down New Malden High Street, comes from the actual day of the assassination and it is poignant to reflect on how many of those depicted would be later killed in the war.
A highlight of the school year was the summer ‘treat’ when the children at the Christ Church Schools were taken to local fields where they could play games and enjoy a picnic. Mr Challacombe and his colleagues would also be present. They would chat to the children and as well as leading the saying or singing of ‘grace’, would join in the games, and often end the day with a short Christian ‘epilogue’.
The photo below shows a school treat for the girls of Christ Church School, held on Friday July 11th 1913.
Another photo on the eve of war depicts a Christ Church School Treat from Friday July 10th 1914.
The Stained Glass Windows
The greater openness towards symbolism and visual beauty during the period that Allen Challacombe was vicar is shown by the fact that seven of the ten stained glass windows at Christ Church date from this time.
The oldest is in the South Wall depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd and Light of the World and was given in memory of Arthur Streeter, who died in 1894, at the age of 22. Arthur was the son of the Churchwarden, Alfred Streeter.
Writing in the April 1896 Parish Magazine about this window, William Challacombe said these words:
‘The eye is a medium of knowledge as well as the ear; and we shall pray that the Spirit of God may glorify Christ through these windows, which will reveal him as Saviour and Guide’
The window in the East Wall depicting Jesus, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist was given in 1900 in memory of Benjamin and Anne Whitehead.
Another in the south wall of the Chancel is from 1906, depicting the biblical character Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) from Acts 9, and given in memory of Emily Larkin.
Three other windows were originally placed in the North Wall but can now be seen in the lit boxes on the West Wall to where they were moved once the lounge was built in 1980/81. The one on the north side of the west wall depicting Faith, Charity and Hope dates from 1907 and was given in memory of Alfred Streeter (Churchwarden 1885-1887 and 1892-1896). Alfred was Headmaster of Malden College, a Justice of the Peace and influential in establishing the Council Offices in New Malden.
The two on the south side of the west wall date from 1900 and 1919 in memory of Frederick Somner Merryweather (Churchwarden 1867-1871) and Rashell Montague Davison, who was severely wounded in the German offensive of March 1918 and subsequently died in 1919.
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Life at CCNM 1866-92 | Building CCNM 1893-1920 | Life at CCNM 1921-35 |  |