St John the Evangelist Reading with St Stephen
Overview
Grid reference: SU 728 734
It is of a French Gothic style, which lends itself well to bold decorative effects and the architect has taken full advantage of this. The exposed west front is a progression of tower, angle-turret, west wall of the have and stair-turret, each element being stepped forward slightly from the one before. The tower and spire dominate both the group of church buildings and the surrounding area.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, aisles and chancel; south-west tower, north-west stair turret and north porch.
Description of Archaeology and History
Built by W. A. Dixon in 1872-3 (tower completed 1874) to replace a church on the same site built by Robert Ebbels in 1836.
Exterior Description
It is of a French Gothic style, which lends itself well to bold decorative effects and the architect has taken full advantage of this. The exposed west front is a progression of tower, angle-turret, west wall of the have and stair-turret, each element being stepped forward slightly from the one before. The tower and spire dominate both the group of church buildings and the surrounding area. Angle buttresses extend upwards for something like two-thirds of the height of the tower and at the top of each is an empty canopied niche. Between these buttresses on the west and south sides are a doorway and a two-light window; both of these are set in two centred arches with heads of alternating Bath and Mansfield stone. Above them the face of the tower is encircled by a continuous arcade which frames the windows of the ringing chamber. The bell-chamber at the top of the tower has two tall windows on each side with arches supported on shafts of Bath or Mansfield stone in random combination. Above the tower is the octagonal Bath stone spire with four lucarnes. A large triple window spans the west wall of the nave; knopped columns support a large central arch and two subsidiary ones, and the heads of the arches are again parti-coloured. Beneath this window four small round-headed openings give light to the area ander the west gallery. The wall at the west end is flanked by two small turrets of unequal height but similar design. Each of them has an open arcade at first-floor level framing simple untracerillpointedwindows. The rest of the exterior, so fax as one can tell, is plain. In the aisle walls two - light windows alternate with small stepped buttresses. The clerestory windows are circular with cusped tracery.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
That in the chancel by Clayton & Bell.
Stained Glass
West window by A.L. Moore.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is limewashed. In the west end is a timber gallery on two posts with a front of wrought-iron openwork; access to this gallery is by means of the north-west stair turret. Just to the south of the gallery is a small baptistery. The arcade of the nave rides on circular columns with foliated capitals of insipid design. The clerestory is well-managed; the window surrounds and vaulting shafts are both of a dark stone which contrasts sharply with the white walls. A string-moulding ties together the capitals of the vaulting shafts and those of the colonettes of the window arches. The roof is steeply pitched with curved trusses and iron tie-rods. The two easternmost bays of both aisles are of greater width than the others giving the effect of a shallow transept on each side. A drop arch on colonnettes divides the nave and chancel; the latter is lighter than the rest of the church having three large windows in the south wall as well as that in the east.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
Caen stone, hexagonal with a vesica on each face and a small marble column at each angle.
Font (object)
1836
Octagonal bowl with quatrefoil decoration on an octagonal shaft. From the previous church of this site.
Reredos
Vine in high relief carved by John D. Batten, an examiner in design to the Board of Education. The.reredos was dedicated on October 31st 1913 and is in the muscular style of the Art School avant garde of that period.
Rail
Chancel Rails of wrought iron on a stone base, the design is simple and based on the fleur-de-lys motif.
Organ (object)
Two-manual by Walker; new action 1953, overhauled 1971.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 728 734
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.
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
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