The original church was built in 1841, but it was soon found to be too small for its congregation; it was also built not facing East to West! Some pew renting took place in the original church, this was the practice of the wealthiest churchgoers paying a fee or bidding for the best seats. It persisted in some areas until the 1970’s. The present church was built in 1892, and there was to be no pew renting at this new church! The vicar at the time ,Thomas Vowler Wickham died shortly before the church build was complete, and he was buried on the same day that the church was consecrated. His grave can be found at the site of the original church’s high altar.

The churchyard is a haven for birds, and you’ll see and hear many different species throughout the year. A favourite visitor is the Robin, which sings all year round. Males and females are identical, and aggressively territorial despite their cute appearance! Other feathered guests you might spot include
Wagtails, Woodpeckers, Owls and our summer visitors the Swifts and Swallows.

A whole host of insects thrive here. Look out for colourful beetles, butterflies and bees, attracted by the flowers and nooks and crannies where they can hide away from predators. A large swarm of ladybirds has been seen in the churchyard in spring. During the winter, adult ladybirds, a type of beetle, hibernate together in large groups called ‘aggregations’, emerging to mate in spring. The most common is the seven spot ladybird Coccinella septempuncta. Other species have varying numbers of spots and variations in colour. The number of spots does not relate to the age of the ladybird!
Swallows and swifts are some of the ladybird’s main predators. When threatened, ladybirds exude a pungent fluid with a bitter taste, warding off ants, birds - and people!

You’ll see native species including alder, silver birch, willow, oak, ash and hawthorn. Several sycamores are dotted around the open areas in the north churchyard and a row of three Common lime trees in
the south. Look out for English Yew and ornamental evergreens.

Look out for...

	WW1 War graves carved in Portland stone.		Welsh poppies Meconopsis cambrica in flower May- June.
	The ornate wrought iron lamp posts.		Woodland plants such as Cuckoo Pint under the shady evergreens.

To download and listen to an item on geodiversity which was on Radio Wales on Sunday 4th July at 5pm (the item was half way through the programme, Science Cafe, which was about the Wrexham Science Festival) please click here

Christ Church, Rossett Management Plan - click here