Christ Church, Todmorden

Christ Church, Todmorden was one of the 'Million Churches' built in the industrial North of England from money paid out of the £1m indemnity obtained from the French following the Napoleonic Wars. The church opened in 1832 although a graveyard had existed for some years previously.

The intention in building it had been to replace the existing St Mary's Church but unrest arose among local people, who felt the new church had been built for the benefit of the rich.

In 1866 Todmorden became a parish in its own right and Christ Church was designated the parish church. St Mary's, which had been closed, re-opened as a chapel of ease. Christ Church closed in 1992 and was sold to a private buyer in 2004. St Mary's continued as a place of worship and was re-dedicated as the parish church of Todmorden.

There are 7 Hiley/Highley graves at Christ Church, along with a number of others with Hiley/Highley family connections. The next few posts will give some brief descriptions of the people buried there.