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| Highfield Church | |
|---|---|
| Christ Church, Portswood | |
 Highfield Church in 2007 | |
  Highfield Church Shown within Southampton | |
| 50°55′47″N1°23′43″W / 50.9296°N 1.3952°W /50.9296; -1.3952 | |
| Location | Highfield, Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www.highfield.church |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 12 September 1846 |
| Founder(s) | Charles Sumner |
| Dedication | Christ |
| Consecrated | 17 September 1847 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | by 1969 |
| Architect(s) | Joshua Brandon |
| Specifications | |
| Number ofspires | 1 |
| Materials | Purbeck Stone,Caen Stone mouldings |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Winchester |
| Parish | Highfield |
| Clergy | |
| Priest in charge | Mike Archer |
| Curate(s) | Erica Roberts |
Highfield Church is aparish church in theHighfield district ofSouthampton,England. It is anAnglican Church in theDiocese of Winchester.
Thefoundation stone for Highfield Church was laid on 12 September 1846 and it wasconsecrated on 17 September 1847, by the Right ReverendCharles Sumner, theBishop of Winchester. The firstMinister was the Reverend Philip Raulin Robin. The legal name of the church isChrist Church,Portswood but it became commonly known asHighfield Church in 1883.
During theFirst World War (1914–1918) quite a number of the men from theparish went to the battlefields. Within the parish boundaries about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land were being developed for housing so a western extension was built to accommodate the extracongregation. AFirst World War memorial was erected near the south door in 1921.
During theSecond World War (1939–1945) Southampton was bombed heavily and there were direct hits on the parish and much loss of life. Throughout this period theclergy and members of the church kept watch on the church with astirrup pump,buckets andshovels. The windows were given a coating of arubber solution to lessen the danger of splintering glass.
The neighbouring church ofSt Barnabas was destroyed in 1940 and the two churches were temporarily merged until the rebuilding of the church at St Barnabas in 1957.
In 1941 there was an air raid whereincendiary bombs fell near to the church. There was no serious structural damage to the church but windows in both the east and west ends of the church were shattered and the caretaker's quarters were destroyed. Despite the roof requiring 7000 new tiles, the morningmatins went ahead. The church replaced those eastern windows that were destroyed inthe Blitz and these were the church's memorial to those who died in the Second World War.
The church celebrated itscentenary in September 1947 withservices by two previous vicars.
Windows on the East side of the church building destroyed during World War Two were replaced in 1952.
The church building waslisted Grade II on theNational Heritage List for England in October 1981.[1][2]
The church originally had anave, a smallchancel withclerestory windows, a southaisle, and atower with a broachedoak shingled spire, which contained onebell. Thearchitect wasJoshua Brandon, who died before the building was completed and is buried in thechurchyard.[citation needed] The walls of the church are ofPurbeck Stone with mouldings ofCaen Stone and the painted glass windows were created by Nixon and Ward.
The church has been built onto and altered many times since it was first built.
Highfield Church is at the junction of Highfield Lane and Church Lane in the Highfield area of Southampton. Next to the church is the Church Centre, which is used by the church and the community for events, for example,adult education classes. Adjacent to the church is the main Highfieldcampus of theUniversity of Southampton. The Highfield Church of England School building stands next to Highfield Church.
