# Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)

Christchurch is a constituency in Dorset represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by Sir Christopher Chope of the Conservative Party.

## History

The original Christchurch constituency, a parliamentary borough, existed from 1572 until 1918. In 1918 the constituency was divided between New Forest and Christchurch and Bournemouth.
The constituency was re-created as a county constituency in 1983 from parts of the seats of Christchurch and Lymington, North Dorset and New Forest. It has since 1983 seen strong Conservative majorities, with the exception of a 1993 by-election caused by the death of Robert Adley when it was won by Diana Maddock, a Liberal Democrat. The Conservatives regained the seat at the next general election in 1997, despite their landslide defeat nationally and Chris Chope has retained it ever since. As of 2017, it is the second strongest Conservative seat in terms of voteshare (69.7%) and strongest in terms of majority (49.6%) in the country, although 2017 also saw Labour come second in the seat for the first time in history, having historically been far weaker than the Liberal Democrats and, in 2015, UKIP.

## Boundaries

1983–1997: The Borough of Christchurch, and the District of Wimborne wards of Ameysford, Ferndown Central, Golf Links, Longham, St Leonards and St Ives East, St Leonards and St Ives South, St Leonards and St Ives West, Stapehill, Tricketts Cross, Verwood, West Moors North, West Moors South, and West Parley.
1997–2010: The Borough of Christchurch, and the District of East Dorset wards of Ameysford, Ferndown Central, Golf Links, St Leonards and St Ives East, St Leonards and St Ives South, St Leonards and St Ives West, Tricketts Cross, Verwood, West Moors North, West Moors South, and West Parley.
2010–2024: The Borough of Christchurch, and the District of East Dorset wards of Ameysford, Ferndown Central, Ferndown Links, Longham, Parley, St Leonards and St Ives East, St Leonards and St Ives West, Stapehill, and West Moors.
2024–present: The District of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole wards of: Burton and Grange, Christchurch Town, Commons, Highcliffe and Walkford, Mudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe, and the Dorset wards of: Ferndown North, Ferndown South, St. Leonards & St. Ives, West Moors & Three Legged Cross, West Parley.
    Minor changes following re-organisation of local authorities and wards in Dorset.

## Constituency profile

The area is not as rural as the adjoining New Forest constituencies, nor as urban as Bournemouth and Poole, and contains a mixed assortment of coastal retirement havens, outlying Bournemouth suburbs and the town of Christchurch itself which has expanded to include dedicated villages of sheltered housing on its outskirts.
Consequently, the present Christchurch seat contains one of the most elderly electorates in the country – only Eastbourne and East Devon have an older average voter age and Christchurch has the highest proportion of over-60s of all UK seats. Having recovered from an early-1990s by-election loss, it is today a very safe Conservative seat, with MP Christopher Chope attaining 65% of the votes, a majority of 47%, at the last general election. It is the safest Tory seat in the South West and on most analyses is on the fringe of the area that usually qualifies as the South West, served by a station with direct links to the capital and closest to London.
Bournemouth Airport is located in the constituency.

## Members of Parliament
### Parliamentary borough (1572–1918)
#### MPs 1571–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| Parliament of 1571 | Andrew Rogers | John Hyett |
| Parliament of 1572–1581 | Henry Knollys | Matthew Evans |
| Parliament of 1584–1585 | Alexander Nevill | Matthew Evans |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | Henry Ashley | Matthew Evans |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Justinian Champernoun | Sampson Lennard |
| Parliament of 1593 | John Herbert | John Agmondesham |
| Parliament of 1597–1598 | Simon Willis | Andrew Rogers |
| Parliament of 1601 | Simon Willis | Henry Meere |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | Richard Martin | Nicholas Hyde |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Sir Thomas Norton | Henry Breton |
| Parliament of 1621–1622 | Sir George Hastings | Nathaniel Tomkins |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Sir George Astmyll | Nathaniel Tomkins |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Thomas Wilford | Nathaniel Tomkins |
| Parliament of 1625–1626 | Robert Mason | Nathaniel Tomkins |
| Parliament of 1628–1629 | Henry Croke | Nathaniel Tomkins |
| No Parliament summoned 1629–1640 |||

#### MPs 1640–1832

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Arnold Herbert | | | Henry Tulse | |
| November 1640 | | Matthew Davies | Royalist | | Henry Tulse | |
| 1642 | | Matthew Davies | Royalist | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant |
| March 1643 | Davies disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Davies disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Davies disabled from sitting – seat vacant | | | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant | Tulse died September(?) 1642 – seat left vacant |
| 1645 | | Richard Edwards | Parliamentarian | | John Kempe | Parliamentarian |
| December 1648 | | Richard Edwards | Parliamentarian | Kempe not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge | Kempe not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge | Kempe not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge |
| 1653 | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Christchurch was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | John Bulkeley | | | Henry Tulse | |
| May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump |
| March 1660 | | John Hildesley | | | Henry Tulse | |
| 1661 | | Humphrey Weld | | | Henry Tulse | |
| February 1679 | | Sir Thomas Clarges | | | Henry Tulse | |
| August 1679 | | Sir Thomas Clarges | | | George Fulford | |
| 1685 | | Sir Thomas Clarges | | | Anthony Ettrick | |
| 1689 | | Francis Gwyn | | | William Ettrick | |
| 1695 | | Viscount Cornbury | | | William Ettrick | |
| 1701 | | Francis Gwyn | | | William Ettrick | |
| 1710 | | (Sir) Peter Mews | | | William Ettrick | |
| 1717 | | (Sir) Peter Mews | | | Francis Gwyn | |
| 1724 by-election | | (Sir) Peter Mews | | | Edward Prideaux Gwyn | |
| 1726 by-election | | Jacob Banks | | | Edward Prideaux Gwyn | |
| 1727 | | Joseph Hinxman | | | Charles Wither | |
| 1732 by-election | | Joseph Hinxman | | | Philip Lloyd | |
| 1734 | | Joseph Hinxman | | | Edward Hooper | |
| 1740 by-election | | (Sir) Charles Armand Powlett | | | Edward Hooper | |
| 1748 by-election | | (Sir) Charles Armand Powlett | | | Sir Thomas Robinson | |
| 1751 by-election | | Harry Powlett | | | Sir Thomas Robinson | |
| 1754 | | Hon. John Mordaunt | | | Sir Thomas Robinson | |
| 1761 | | Hon. Thomas Robinson | | | James Harris | Whig |
| November 1770 by-election | | James Harris (junior) | Whig | | James Harris | Whig |
| 1774 | | Hon. Thomas Villiers | Tory | | James Harris | Whig |
| 1780 | | Sir James Harris | Whig | | James Harris | Whig |
| 1781 by-election | | Sir James Harris | Whig | | (Sir) John Frederick | |
| 1788 by-election | | Hans Sloane | Tory | | (Sir) John Frederick | |
| 1790 | | Hans Sloane | Tory | | George Rose | Tory |
| 1796 | | William Stewart Rose | Tory | | George Rose | Tory |
| May 1800 by-election | | William Chamberlayne | | | George Rose | Tory |
| 1802 | | William Sturges Bourne | Tory | | George Rose | Tory |
| 1812 | | William Edward Tomline | Tory | | George Rose | Tory |
| March 1818 by-election | | William Edward Tomline | Tory | | Sir George Henry Rose | Tory |
| June 1818 | | William Sturges Bourne | Tory | | Sir George Henry Rose | Tory |
| 1826 | | George Pitt Rose | Tory | | Sir George Henry Rose | Tory |
| 1832 | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member |

#### MPs 1832–1918

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1832 | Sir George Tapps-Gervis | Conservative |
| 1837 | Sir George Henry Rose | Conservative |
| 1844 | Hon. Edward Harris | Conservative |
| 1852 | John Edward Walcott | Conservative |
| 1868 | Edmund Haviland-Burke | Liberal |
| 1874 | Sir Henry Drummond Wolff | Conservative |
| 1880 | Horace Davey | Liberal |
| 1885 | Charles Young | Conservative |
| 1892 | Abel Henry Smith | Conservative |
| 1900 | Kenneth Balfour | Conservative |
| 1906 | Arthur Acland Allen | Liberal |
| 1910 | Henry Page Croft | Conservative |
| 1917 | Henry Page Croft | National |
| 1918 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### County constituency
#### MPs since 1983

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1983 | Robert Adley | Conservative |
| 1993 by-election | Diana Maddock | Liberal Democrat |
| 1997 | Sir Christopher Chope | Conservative |

## Elections 1983–present
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 16,941 | 35.8 | −29.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Cox | 9,486 | 20.0 | +2.6 |
| | Reform UK | Robin Adamson | 8,961 | 18.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Joanna Howard | 7,762 | 16.4 | +3.5 |
| | Green | Susan Graham | 1,900 | 4.0 | −0.2 |
| | Independent | Simon McCormack | 1,728 | 3.7 | N/A |
| | Animal Welfare | Sasha Jolliffe Yasawi | 335 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Steve Unwin | 163 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | SDP | Trevor Parsons | 59 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,455 | 15.8 | −31.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,335 | 66.6 | −5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,064 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −16.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 34,037 | 65.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 9,003 | 17.4 |
| | Labour | 6,676 | 12.9 |
| | Green | 2,174 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,890 | 72.5 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,598 |
General election 2019: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 33,894 | 65.2 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Cox | 9,277 | 17.9 | +10.0 |
| | Labour | Andrew Dunne | 6,568 | 12.6 | −7.3 |
| | Green | Chris Rigby | 2,212 | 4.3 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,617 | 47.3 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,951 | 72.6 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.2 | |
General election 2017: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 35,230 | 69.6 | +11.5 |
| | Labour | Patrick Canavan | 10,059 | 19.9 | +10.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Cox | 4,020 | 7.9 | +1.3 |
| | Green | Chris Rigby | 1,324 | 2.6 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,171 | 49.7 | +13.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,633 | 72.0 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
General election 2015: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 28,887 | 58.1 | +1.7 |
| | UKIP | Robin Grey | 10,663 | 21.5 | +13.0 |
| | Labour | Andrew Satherley | 4,745 | 9.5 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Canning | 3,263 | 6.6 | −18.7 |
| | Green | Shona Dunn | 2,149 | 4.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,224 | 36.6 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,707 | 71.7 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.6 | |
General election 2010: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 27,888 | 56.4 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martyn Hurll | 12,478 | 25.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Robert Deeks | 4,849 | 9.8 | −5.8 |
| | UKIP | David Williams | 4,201 | 8.5 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,410 | 31.1 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,416 | 71.8 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 28,208 | 54.7 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leslie Coman | 12,649 | 24.5 | −3.3 |
| | Labour | Jim King | 8,051 | 15.6 | +0.5 |
| | UKIP | David Hughes | 2,657 | 5.2 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,559 | 30.2 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,565 | 69.6 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
General election 2001: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 27,306 | 55.1 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dorothy Webb | 13,762 | 27.8 | −14.8 |
| | Labour | Judith Begg | 7,506 | 15.1 | +8.2 |
| | UKIP | Margaret Strange | 993 | 2.0 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,544 | 27.3 | +23.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,567 | 67.5 | −11.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.8 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 26,095 | 46.4 | −17.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Maddock | 23,930 | 42.6 | +19.0 |
| | Labour | Charles Mannan | 3,884 | 6.9 | −5.2 |
| | Referendum | Ray Spencer | 1,684 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | R.H. Dickinson | 606 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,165 | 3.8 | −36.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,199 | 78.5 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win | Conservative win |
Percentage share changes compared with 1992 general election. .
By-election 1993: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Maddock | 33,164 | 62.2 | +38.6 |
| | Conservative | Robert Hayward | 16,737 | 31.4 | −32.1 |
| | Labour | Nigel Lickley | 1,453 | 2.7 | −9.4 |
| | Anti-Federalist League | Alan Sked | 878 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | David Sutch | 404 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Ind. Conservative | Andrew Bannon | 357 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Sack Graham Taylor | Peter G. Newman | 80 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Buy the Daily Sport | Tara Bardot-Jackson | 67 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Save the National Health Service | Peter A. Hollyman | 60 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Highlander IV Wednesday Promotion | John P. Crockard | 48 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Mark Griffiths | 45 | 0.1 | −0.3 |
| | Ian For King | Mark Belcher | 23 | 0.0 | N/A |
| | Alfred The Chicken | Karl Fitzhugh | 18 | 0.0 | N/A |
| | Rainbow Alliance | John R. Walley | 16 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,427 | 30.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,350 | 74.2 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +35.4 | |
General election 1992: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Adley | 36,627 | 63.5 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dennis Bussey | 13,612 | 23.6 | −0.9 |
| | Labour | Alan Lloyd | 6,997 | 12.1 | +2.5 |
| | Natural Law | James Barratt | 243 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | Chauvinist Raving Alliance | Adrian Wareham | 175 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,015 | 39.9 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,654 | 80.7 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Adley | 35,656 | 65.9 | −1.2 |
| | SDP | Hilary McKenzie | 13,282 | 24.5 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | Caralyn Longhurst | 5,174 | 9.6 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,374 | 41.4 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,112 | 76.3 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0 | |
General election 1983: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Adley | 31,722 | 67.1 | |
| | SDP | Stephen Alexander | 11,984 | 25.3 | |
| | Labour | John Mitchell | 3,590 | 7.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,738 | 41.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,296 | 72.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Election results 1868–1918
### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edmund Haviland-Burke | 609 | 52.1 | +11.7 |
| | Conservative | Henry Drummond Wolff | 560 | 47.9 | −11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,169 | 88.0 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,329 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Drummond Wolff | 978 | 61.7 | +13.8 |
| | Liberal | Clement Milward | 607 | 38.3 | −13.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 371 | 23.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,585 | 86.6 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,831 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +13.8 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Horace Davey | 1,185 | 51.5 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | John Edwards-Moss | 1,117 | 48.5 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 | 3.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,302 | 90.1 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,555 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2 | |
General election 1885: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Young | 2,184 | 52.1 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal | Horace Davey | 2,006 | 47.9 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,190 | 90.6 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,626 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election 1886: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Young | 2,072 | 53.1 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | Alpheus Morton | 1,833 | 46.9 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 6.2 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,905 | 84.4 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,626 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | 2,803 | 51.9 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Banister Fletcher | 2,600 | 48.1 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 | 3.8 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,403 | 85.8 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,294 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
General election 1895: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | 3,198 | 50.7 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 3,114 | 49.3 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 1.4 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,312 | 84.4 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,477 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Balfour | 3,407 | 50.1 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Brassey | 3,399 | 49.9 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 0.2 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,806 | 83.9 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,116 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
The original tally for the 1906 election had Balfour with 3,411 votes and Brassey with 3,408 votes. However, a recount resulted in the increased majority for Balfour.
General election 1906: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Acland Allen | 4,634 | 53.3 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Balfour | 4,067 | 46.7 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 567 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,701 | 91.3 | +7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,530 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Croft | 5,538 | 53.5 | +6.8 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Acland Allen | 4,807 | 46.5 | −6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 731 | 7.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,345 | 94.1 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,991 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.8 | |
General election December 1910: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Croft | 5,275 | 53.3 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Verney | 4,619 | 46.7 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 656 | 6.6 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,894 | 90.0 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,991 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.2 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: Henry Croft
* Liberal:

## Election results 1832–1868
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | George Tapps | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 206 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1835: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Tapps | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 354 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1837: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Henry Rose | 116 | 52.3 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Gordon Cameron | 106 | 47.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 222 | 81.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 271 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Henry Rose | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 300 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Rose resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, causing a by-election.
By-election, 28 March 1844: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Harris | 180 | 68.2 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Tice | 84 | 31.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 96 | 36.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 264 | 79.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 331 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1847: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Harris | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 301 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Edward Walcott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 313 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Edward Walcott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 328 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Edward Walcott | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 339 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Edward Walcott | 211 | 59.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edmund Haviland-Burke | 143 | 40.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 | 19.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 354 | 84.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 419 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

## Elections before 1832

General election 1831: Christchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | George Henry Rose | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | George Pitt Rose | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1830: Christchurch :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Tory | George Henry Rose | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory | George Pitt Rose | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |

## Neighbouring constituencies

vteConstituencies bordering Christchurch :
North Dorset
Bournemouth West Mid Dorset
Christchurch
New Forest West
Bournemouth East :