Nominal: 784.1 Hz Weight: 1288 lbs Diameter: 40" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 6427 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Burslem: St John the Baptist
Diocese of Lichfield
Church, 620340
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 869 494
Short 16th century west tower, the rest rebuilt following a fire c.1717 with later additions and extensions, including chancel in 1788 by Thomas Sherwin. South vestry c.1789 and north vestry dated 1930s. Associations with, and memorials for, notable persons including Wood and Wedgewood.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower with abutting north (now kitchen) and south (now WCs) vestries. 6-bay nave, with glazed narthex at west end beneath gallery, and shallow chancel with apsidal east end.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 14m (46ft) x 14m (46ft), apsidal chancel 3m (10ft) x 5.5 (18ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 430 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
A church has been on this site since the 12th century. Of the current building, the tower is the oldest part, dated c.1536, and also considered to be the oldest surviving structure in Stoke on Trent. The remainder of the church was built in 1717 to replace a timber-framed thatched nave which was destroyed by fire. By the 1780s the church was said to have become too small, so it was extended by a bay to the east, by Thomas Sherwin in 1788. The church warden at the time, who is credited for instigating the extension, was the potter Enoch Wood. At the same time the roof was raised, it is likely that galleries were also inserted to the north and south (west gallery probably also of this date), with stairs provided within vestibules at the north-east and south-east corners (now vestry and storage). The Victoria County History also records a gallery at the east end with an organ in 1792. A clergy vestry was built to the south-west in 1793 (now WCs). In 1878 the nave was restored and refitted, and a new organ positioned on the west gallery. The east gallery was probably cleared at this time. New fittings at the east end installed in 1919. A clergy vestry was added to the north of the tower c.1930s, now used as a kitchen. The area beneath the west balcony has since been glazed to form a narthex.
The churchyard was extended in 1804 and 1847. A section of the north side of the churchyard was lost when the main road was altered. The churchyard contains memorials to a number of local and nationally notable figures, including the Woods and Josiah Wedgwood and his family, and local master potters Egerton, Daniel and Adams. Another burial of local interest is that of Margaret Leigh, regarded as the witch of Burslem, whose grave is unusually aligned north-south to the south of the church.
There are many local archaeological records, with the majority relating to the pottery industry, and a number of finds recording medieval pottery providing evidence of the local pottery industry in the 16th century. The archaeological potential of the site is moderate. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot.
Exterior Description
The church is relatively simple in its external appearance, though fragmented. A short but sturdy two-stage west tower has prominence given the large open churchyard around it. The tower has a low west door with ancient studded oak doors set beneath a flat-arched hoodmould, a monument is fixed to the wall to the south side. A step into the base of the tower is inscribed ‘subscribed for by neighbours and friends’. A three-light perpendicular window is placed above it, with a three-light opening to the bell-chamber above that, repeated on each side. The tower has an embattled parapet and angled buttresses.
The nave, with its shallow, pitched, hipped roof, is attached to the tower’s east. At first sight it appears rendered, but on closer inspection the masonry is actually painted, though this was done with a cementitious paint in the 1970s. The nave has a stone plinth possibly from the older structure. The north and south nave walls are characterised by tall round-headed windows which contain Y-tracery and mark each bay. They have brick reveals with stone springers and keys. Meshing obstructs and detracts from the overall exterior appearance. Shorter versions are positioned above doors positioned at the eastern and western-most bays. Those to the east on north and south sides have pedimented door surrounds whilst that to the west on the south side has a moulded architrave. It is likely the doors at the east end pre-date the chancel extension. Following the extension they would have led to vestibules which once had stairs up to interior galleries. A doorway in the western-most bay on the south side has a moulded architrave. This is not mirrored on the north side, though there is a door into the later north-west former vestry.
This vestry is a boxy, low 1970s extension with flat roof and now contains the kitchen. It has pointed windows and abuts the tower and nave. In the south-west corner between the nave and the tower is a flat-roofed vestry with curved outer wall. It has two Y-tracery lights to the south side, and now contains WCs.
At the east end the wall bows outwards and has a Venetian window with pilasters between the three lights. Cast-iron guttering survives in place. Heavy iron straps are the result of stabilisation works in response to mining subsidence.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
16th century
Vestry
18th century south
Vestry
20th century north
Nave
18th century
Chancel
18th century with apsidal east end
Building Materials
Millstone Grit
15th
Millstone Grit
Sandstone
16th
Sandstone
Stone
16th century coursed and squared rubble tower
Brick
18th century
Stone
18th century plinth
Concrete
19th century roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The main entry is through the south-west door which opens into the glazed narthex area, beneath the west gallery. It is a carpeted space used for meetings and other activities. A separate meeting room is through glazed doors to the north side, and provides access to the kitchen which was inserted with the assistance of lottery money. The kitchen abuts the tower whose masonry walls form the backs to the cupboards on the south side. Access to the WCs is through a ‘scooped-out’ Georgian doorway in the south-west corner of the narthex.
Access to the tower stair is by steps in the centre of the west wall of the narthex. A tower room is reached before getting to the gallery. There are many peal boards on the walls, and a stack of children’s toys on the floor. The gallery space is also used for storage. The floors are boarded with some of the pews still in place. Organ pipes are positioned centrally on the platform. The walls have been repainted and plastered as part of a community pay-back scheme. The gallery front, appreciated from the nave, is Georgian.
The nave is seated with numbered fixed pine pew benches (c.1878?) with holders to the ends, positioned on raised boarded platforms. The aisles are carpeted. Removed choir stalls from the chancel are stored along the north wall. The walls are boarded to dado height and painted above. Radiators are fixed to the walls. The glass in the windows is of clear, diamond leaded panes (with some coloured glass to the borders and within the uppermost lights). The south windows are covered by long textile pieces to provide colour and to reduce drafts from the broken windows. Floodlights are crudely wired onto the walls between the windows. A simply profiled cornice follows the perimeter of the flat ceiling.
Computers are set up in the north-west corner of the nave, and there is storage in the south-west corner. The north-east corner is set up with band equipment. A door in the corner beyond it leads to the vestry, historically a vestibule with access up to a gallery. The equivalent in the south-east corner once had a crypt beneath it but was filled around ten years ago as a solution to the space filling with water. Above the doorway is a projector screen.
At the east end, an inserted elevated carpeted platform projects out from the sanctuary into the easternmost bay of the nave and marks out the chancel area. It is reported that Minton tiles survive beneath but these could not be inspected. Furniture from the chancel has been cleared except the back row of choir stalls. There are two steps up at the east end to the communion rails, and the altar is raised on another step. The east wall is oak panelled. A three-light stained glass window is positioned beyond it.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Jacobean oak table, modern hardwood table behind it with plaque 1951.
Reredos
20th century the east wall has oak panelling, 1911
Pulpit
19th century octagonal pine with steps, 1878
Lectern
20th century carved oak eagle lectern with plaque, 1911
Font (component)
18th century slim octagonal marble font with conical wood cover with small metal bird, c 1717
Rail
19th century scrolled and twisted cast iron supports with pine rail c 1878
Stained Glass (window)
19th century • East window – given in memory of Emma Bradshaw, first wife of Henry Parker (Burslem brewer), d.1879. Depicts ‘I was hungry and you fed me, blessed are the pure in heart, teach me his ways’.
Plaque (component)
18th century • Two blue and white terracotta plaques by Enoch Wood [1759-1840] - one a crucifix ‘Our Saviour’, the other ‘The Decent from the Cross’. Made in 1774 and 1777 when he was only a teenager. Wood was a manufacturer and became a leading figure in the town and a church warden.
Bells
Nominal: 1321.2 Hz Weight: 504 lbs Diameter: 28.5" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 40838 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1185.4 Hz Weight: 616 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 40839 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1036.6 Hz Weight: 588 lbs Diameter: 31" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 40840 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 975.8 Hz Weight: 616 lbs Diameter: 32" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 40841 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 875.9 Hz Weight: 840 lbs Diameter: 36" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by William Dobson 1828
Dove Bell ID: 40842 Tower ID: 11305 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
registers dating from 1636
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 869 494
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 25/10/1881
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.