Steeple Sunday: Christ Church

The founding of Christ Church (Episcopal) is traditionally dated to the afternoon of August 21, 1821. English born Richard Upjohn, the leading Gothic Revival style church architect in America and founder of the American Institute of Architect originally included the tower in the original plans but the church did not have the funds for it. In 1859 construction of the tower began.
It was completed in 1861 just two months prior to the firing on Fort Sumter that opened the Civil War. Please note the gilded weathercock at the tower's peak. It is a common feature of English country churches. After the end of the Civil War, the locals enjoyed repeating the saying that the rooster atop Christ Church steeple was the only chicken left in Raleigh when General Sherman's troops withdrew from the capital on April 28-29, 1865.

Christ Church, is one of North Carolina's most distinguished and beautiful church buildings. I especially admire the beautiful red tile roof and stone exterior.
Over the years there have been several renovations and additions to Christ Church (which spans several blocks). The most significant ones were in 2000-2001, when Richard Upjohn's English country church, built and furnished for a total of $30,000.00 in the mid 1800's, was meticulously restored at a cost of $3.1 million and in 2008 the Baker Wing to the church was renovated at a cost of $1.3 million. As of 2008 the membership at Christ Church was 2,600.