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Daughter Churches - St George's Church, Jumpers Road.
 In
the late 1890s a Sunday School was started by Mrs
Alica Carter of Wick at 4 Fitzmaurice Road (the home
of Mrs Whiteley). A wood and galvanised iron building
was built in 1898 as a Place of Worship. The Sunday
School moved there and every Sunday the Rev George
Seymour, whose Christian name was used for the title
of the church, drove from Southbourne in a horse
and carriage to take the service.
In
1909 plans were approved for a Mission Church and
School Room, and a second-hand Tin church in Brighton
was bought and sent to Christchurch Railway Station
in sections. It was taken by wagon to the site.
In
1911 the church was not large enough to accommodate
the increased congregation, and it was decided that
a larger building should be erected. An appeal was
launched. The foundation stone was laid by Mr James
Druitt JP in August 1927, and St George's Church
was dedicated in 1928 by the Bishop of Winchester,
the Rt Rev Dr Theodore Woods. At that time there
was oak panelling around the sanctuary, but, unfortunately
damaged by woodworm, this had to be removed in 1957.
The
Centenary of the Church was celebrated in 1998. It
now serves an area of the Parish of Christchurch
bounded by the Rivers Avon and Stour and the main
railway line from Bournemouth to London.
The
stained glass windows in the apse show St George,
the Patron Saint of the Church and St Paul. There
is a window of Madonna and Child in the Lady Chapel.
The
turret was rebuilt in 1933 to take a new bell 3.5
cwt (180 kg), made by Messrs John Taylor & Co.
The
altar in the Lady Chapel is the original one from
the Tin Church and on the rear pillar is a picture
of a Romanian 17th century St George.
The
lectern is made from 14th century oak taken from
the Priory Roof when repairs were carried out in
1883.
The
first organ was a pipe organ made by Bevington of
London in 1870. The present organ is electronic.
The
pulpit with its carved and painted picture of St
George and the Dragon, provided by a legacy, was
dedicated in 1958. The tapestry of the same subject
was given in 1998.
Many
things in the Church and the grounds, have been provided
by gift or legacy from past and present members of
the congregation.
Image
of St George's Church © Andy Clayton.
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