Church's

Church’s is a high-end English footwear manufacturer that was founded in 1873 by Thomas Church.[2] In 1999, the company came under the control of Prada in a US$170 million deal.[3]

For the fast food chain, see Church's Chicken. For other uses, see Church's (disambiguation).
Church & Co Limited
TypePrivate limited company[1]
IndustryShoemaking
Founded1873
FounderThomas Church
HeadquartersNorthampton, England
ProductsFootwear and accessories
OwnerPrada (since 1999)
Websitechurch-footwear.com
Church's works in St James Road, Northampton
Native American Indian on the front office of the building - see St. James End, Northampton

History

Between the two world wars, Church’s became actively involved in the development of the footwear industry in general. In 1919, the British Boot, Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association was created with Church’s as a founder-member. As a result of this partnership, the Northampton Technical College was established in 1925. This went on to become the University of Northampton in 2005.

The family business was taken over by Prada in 1999, and it has since expanded its outlets overseas.[2] As of 2014, the company employed 650 people. The same year, Church's took over adjacent premises in St James Road, formerly a tram and later a bus depot, in anticipation of further expansion which could add up to another 140 jobs.[4]

Location

Its main installations are located in the St James area of Northampton, with an estimated production capacity of 5,000 pairs per week, 70% of which are exported all over the world. Besides products sold to resellers and individual customers, the company also has several of its own retail stores, including ones in Jermyn Street, London, George Street, Edinburgh, Pacific Place, Hong Kong,Chicago, Illinois, USA and County Arcade, Leeds. It has 50 stores across central and northern Europe, America, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Japan.[4]

Notable customers

British Prime Minister Tony Blair had a "lucky pair" of Church's black 310 brogues, which he wore to every session of Prime Minister's Questions for ten years.[5][6]

During Pierce Brosnan's tenure as James Bond, various selections of dress shoes from the Church's range were used in production. Lindy Hemming, who was the costume designer, explained the choice of Church's shoes as having the appropriate weight to complement the silhouette of the tailored Brioni suits she had commissioned for Bond.[7]

Mr Bean (portrayed by Rowan Atkinson) wore a pair of black Church's shoes on the TV show and in the films.

References
  1. "Company information". Companies House. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. "Church's history". Church & Co Limited. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. "Prada in $170 Million Deal For Church, the Shoemaker". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  4. "Church's To Take Over Old Bus Depot". Heart Radio. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  5. White, Michael (23 June 2007). "Brogue Male". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. Blair, Tony (2010). A Journey. Random House. pp. 110.
  7. "James Bond's shoes auction" Northampton Chronicle 4 November 2007


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