Information & Visiting - St Christopher's Church of England War Memorial Home

St Christopher's Church of England War Memorial Home

St Christopher's Care Home Northants was founded to serve the local community in 1951.

The home aims to support the independence, choice and preferred lifestyles of all residents in a homely, stable and Christian environment, whilst respecting the need for privacy and dignity in maintaining a chosen quality of life for each individual within the service offered. The home aims to provide quality care, working hard to maintain high standards of care and hygiene.

It offers a tranquil living environment, set in two acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens opposite Abington Park. St Christopher's Care Home is a charity which raises money to benefit all residents.

Up to the end of the nineteenth century, Abington was a tiny village of about 27 small houses or cottages, a Church and the 'Abbey'. The Church of St Peter and St Paul remains, and the Abbey is now home to the Northampton Museum. In the mid 1800 a decision was made to build a new Rectory situated a short distance west of the Church. An elaborate building was planned with ironstone from Weston being used and Bath stone for the corbels and quoins. The new house was eventually habitable in August 1849 and is still recognisable today, forming the central part of St Christopher's Care Home.

It 1949 it was becoming apparent that a Victorian Rectory was too expensive to maintain, and it was suggested that the Rectory would make a good Residential Home for old people similar to the local Bethany Homestead, which opened in 1921 for the Baptists and Congregationalists. Regular meetings were held and soon all the parishes in the Deanery were involved. A General Council consisting of the incumbents of the Deanery with lay representatives of each parish subsequently drew up a Trust Deed for approval and the first Trustees were named. The first Deed read as follows:

"A Charity to be set up to provide homes for the aged and infirm; to be used primarily but not exclusively for the accommodation of Members of the Church of England. A Trust War Memorial established by members of the Church of England in the Rural Deanery of Northampton."

By February 1943, the dedication of St Christopher had been decided upon.

By this time, it was decided that Abington Rectory and its spacious grounds would be a suitable residence for the projected St Christopher's Home. A series of cottages were envisaged round the main house, all in a garden with a chapel, and people who came to live there would pay according to their means. The project received great approval with churches like St Matthew's, for example, who decided to raise £1,500 in support, and the necessary conversions were started, with St Christopher's Care Home opening its doors in 1951.

Over the years the home has been expanded and improved and now includes bungalows, apartments and flats for independent living alongside a care home for those requiring a little more help with their everyday needs. A short stay care service is also available, which can be from one week to a month or longer. Respite is only available if rooms are not filled with permanent residents, as the home does not hold set rooms for respite. The management and staff actively encourage residents to live a life of their choosing and offer continued support to achieve this. St Christopher's aims to ensure the transition from one home to another as a pleasant and comfortable experience for both residents and families alike. There are a variety of on-site activities for residents to take part in, with a list of events that are planned throughout the month. There is also a variety of outdoor activities at St Christopher's that residents can benefit from, including walks along local paths and parks and regular mini-bus trips, shopping excursions and theatre visits. The home has its own small shop and hairdressers.

St Christopher's offers services for those that wish to remain independent and those that require a little more help with their everyday needs. There is a weekly church service in the Chapel and each Sunday morning the residents share in a live streamed Mass from local churches.

The trustees of St Christopher's are committed to maintaining the peaceful Anglican environment and charitable ethos envisaged by the founders; they are elected by representatives of every parish in the Greater Northampton Deanery and give their services voluntarily. All parishes in the Deanery are invited to nominate a lay representative to act as contact and attend the Annual AGM.

St Ragener's Chapel

The new chapel, at the end of the South Wing, was dedicated in 1993 and was to have seats for ninety people.

Should you be interested in visiting St Christopher's or would like to know more please contact the Manager on 01604 637125 or visit the website www.stchristopherscofehome.co.uk.

You can also contact our lay representative, Polly Matthews, who would be happy to tell you more.

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