In January 1842, a German-born Jew named Michael Solomon Alexander entered the old city of Jerusalem and began his work as the first
Anglican Bishop in the Holy Land. As a young man he had taught Hebrew
in England, and there he was later ordained a rabbi. Soon after,
Alexander became a follower of Jesus in 1825 after meeting several
Anglican clergymen who introduced him to the Gospel.
Not surprisingly, he was ostracized by the Jewish community although
he remained proud of his heritage after coming to faith. Alexander
was a lecturer of Hebrew and Rabbinic literature at Kings College
London when he was chosen to be the first Anglican bishop in the
Middle East. In addition to other work, he translated the Book of
Common Prayer and the New Testament into Hebrew. He was an early
advocate of the need for Christians to learn Hebrew and Jewish
sources from the Second Temple Period in order to better understand
their faith. He was also convinced that the people of Israel would
return to their Promised Land, and once there, that God would pour
out his Holy Spirit upon them, and upon all mankind.
When Bishop Alexander arrived in Jerusalem, he had no cathedral and
almost no congregation. He set to work sharing the Gospel with his
Jewish co-religionists and began building Christ Church. Although
little is known about his personality, Bishop Alexander is remembered
for his compassion. At that time, Jerusalem was a dirty, decaying
town in a forgotten corner of the Ottoman Empire and in response to
the poverty and unsanitary conditions, Bishop Alexander established
the first modern hospital in the Holy Land. At that time, the small
impoverished Jewish community received ill treatment from both
Muslims and Christians alike. He was quick to help the poor,
especially those Jews who had lost their livelihood after becoming
followers of Christ. At his enthronement, the Archbishop of
Canterbury charged Bishop Alexander to open a college for the
education of Jewish and Gentile believers. But after only three
years in office, Bishop Alexander died unexpectedly in 1845 and did
not live to see the completion of Christ Church.
There had been many delays. Political and religious opposition from
the Ottoman Turks had to be worked through. Then, no one local was
found capable of building a modern structure with such high ceilings
and thin walls, so stone masons had to be brought in from Malta.
Finally, in 1849 the simple Gothic building was completed. From the
outside it differs little from many Anglican churches. However, once
inside the building has more similarity to a synagogue than to a
local parish church. The communion table and stained-glass windows
contain Jewish symbols and Hebrew script, and like all synagogues in
Jerusalem, the church faces the Temple Mount. On the Eastern wall of
the church, the words of Jesus and the Apostles' Creed are engraved
in Hebrew. In fact, the church was so Jewish in appearance that in
1948, when it became necessary to prove to a vengeful Jordanian Army
that the unusual building was indeed a Christian house of worship,
the then rector Rev Hugh Jones, hurried to the Souk to buy an olive
wood cross to place on the communion table.
Even though relatively new by Jerusalem standards, Christ Church has
a fascinating history and is the only church in the Old City that
fully acknowledges our ancient Jewish roots in its liturgy, symbols,
and architecture. Christ Church is indeed one of the most unique
churches in Jerusalem.
* For the complete story of the personalities and political
intrigues surrounding the establishment of Christ Church, see "For
the Love of Zion," by Kelvin Crombie.
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