Church's Appreciation Thread

[Pitman]

Church's Grafton 173

 

[rakuskus]

its the same, however church's G fitting is generous.

 

[vim147]

Are there different Churchs custom grade range ?
Ive been looking on eBay for Churchs on the 73 last and some have a black inner quarter sole and some have beige colour inner sole. Also whats the difference between 73 and 173 last. Is this a pre-prada thing ?

 

[rakuskus]

Are there different Churchs custom grade range ?
Ive been looking on eBay for Churchs on the 73 last and some have a black inner quarter sole and some have beige colour inner sole. Also whats the difference between 73 and 173 last. Is this a pre-prada thing ?

Yes its pre prada. churchs have two famous pre prada last 100 and 73. after prada they combine it to 173 last. I have no experience with pre prada last and also churchs shoes that are not custom grade. Personally I would not care about churchs' shoe grade. I can't tell any major different.

 

[alexSF]

Church's Grafton 173

Grafton in grain leather is sweet, great purchase

Yes its pre prada. churchs have two famous pre prada last 100 and 73. after prada they combine it to 173 last. I have no experience with pre prada last and also churchs shoes that are not custom grade. Personally I would not care about churchs' shoe grade. I can't tell any major different.

100 last replaced the glorious 73 last in the early 2000's.
It was a mediocre looking last and it was then replaced by the 173 which combines the two.

100 round toe, 73 and 173 slighty squared toe

 

[vim147]

Anyone know a cobbler in UK that can do a full resole on a churchs diplomat on 73 last. Also rough prices i should expect to pay. Does an independent cobbler need to have the original last to be able to resole ?

 

[randan]

Does anybody here know what width the Church’s shoes from yoox.com come from? I saw a nice pair of Ryders and asked yoox.com about the width, unfortunately they couldn’t tell me. Thanks in advance.

 

[suitforcourt]

Anyone ever sent a pair back to Northampton factory for recraft? Worth it? Or just use reputable cobbler? I live in Canada, so costs are significant. Likely close to $300 Canadian.

 

[Chowkin]

Many years ago Wallpaper ran an article on the pretty amazing refurbishment of a pair of Church's. Sadly it's no longer there. Here's a photo I found on the internet:

And here's a Google translate of the article which also referred to that no longer existing Wallpaper article:

https://translate.googleusercontent...appen/&usg=ALkJrhheRm5q8eG0Wxtti7YMF2i1u48XJw

 

[Maximus Rex]

Many years ago Wallpaper ran an article on the pretty amazing refurbishment of a pair of Church's. Sadly it's no longer there. Here's a photo I found on the internet:

And here's a Google translate of the article which also referred to that no longer existing Wallpaper article:

https://translate.googleusercontent...appen/&usg=ALkJrhheRm5q8eG0Wxtti7YMF2i1u48XJw

I haven't bought a pair of Church's in years, but did get an old 73 last pair re-crafted a few years back by Church's. They did an acceptable job.

 

[letsgofire]

Anyone ever sent a pair back to Northampton factory for recraft? Worth it? Or just use reputable cobbler? I live in Canada, so costs are significant. Likely close to $300 Canadian.

I've done this three times and I've been impressed each time. I think if you'd like to get some additional years out of your shoes, you should go for it. If you're not sure, I would just buy a new pair. Personally, it's kind of fun to have old shoes.

 

[suitforcourt]

I've done this three times and I've been impressed each time. I think if you'd like to get some additional years out of your shoes, you should go for it. If you're not sure, I would just buy a new pair. Personally, it's kind of fun to have old shoes.

Thanks, I will definitely recraft. Do you always use Church? Or any reputable cobbler?

 

[letsgofire]

Thanks, I will definitely recraft. Do you always use Church? Or any reputable cobbler?

I used the Church's service each time. Given how nice they looked each time they came back, I plan to continue to do this in the future. For a pair of shoes made by Cheaney, I used B. Nelson shoes based out of NYC and they also did a great job.

I don't know enough about the technical processes followed in this, but my observation is that this is the type of job that requires a specialist and that you would be better off not sending to your local cobbler.

 

[Pitman]

Church's Grafton 173

As much as I love these shoes, I'll have to depart with them. I simply have too many pairs of shoes. Alas, my lose is your gain. They are completely brand new. Only tried on when I first received them. Size 60F which equals a UK6 or US7 If anyone's interested, PM me. I'm selling for a very generous price.

Thanks.

 

[futuresailors]

Does anyone have any details about the Masterclass line? I can't find much other than one or two anectdotes about them being of at least C&J handgrade quality.
Just picked these up and I like a bit of backstory (Ibsen model, 75 last)