Church of St John sub Castro, Lewes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John sub Castro |
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The Church of St John sub Castro from the south
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| 50°52′34″N 0°00′34″E / 50.8760°N 0.0094°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 4146 1040 |
| Location | Abinger Place, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2QA |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Consecrated | 3 June 1840 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 16 March 1970 |
| Architect(s) | George Cheesman |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Construction cost | £3,300 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint, red brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John sub Castro |
| Deanery | Lewes & Seaford |
| Archdeaconry | Lewes & Hastings |
| Diocese | Chichester |
The Church of St John sub Castro is an Anglican church in Lewes, a town in East Sussex, England. It was built in 1839. It stands where an old Saxon church from the 11th century used to be. This church is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historic building.
In the churchyard, there's a special memorial. It remembers Finnish prisoners from the Crimean War who died in a local prison. This memorial is also a Grade II listed building. Today, it's still an active parish church in the diocese of Chichester.
Contents
History of St John sub Castro
Early Beginnings
Around the early 11th century, a church was built here. It was on the site of an old Roman fort. This fort was built to protect a crossing over the River Ouse. The river was deep enough for boats below this point.
The church was in the north-west part of the walled town. It was on a steep chalk cliff. There were two small hills nearby. One of them later showed signs of human burials.
Becoming Part of the Priory
In 1121, the church became part of the Priory of St Pancras. This was a Cluniac monastery. The church was first called "St John sub Castro" in 1190. "Sub castro" means "below the castle" in Latin. This name helped tell it apart from another chapel. That chapel was also dedicated to St John the Baptist.
Changes Over Time
By 1586, the church was in poor condition. A writer named William Camden said it was "all desolate". Around that time, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was taken down. In 1635, the church was repaired. It then only had a nave (main part) and a tower.
In the early 1800s, many new homes were built in the St John's area. The church only had 260 seats. This was not enough for the growing population. The number of people in the parish had tripled in 30 years.
Building a New Church
The church's leader, Peter Guerin Crofts the Younger, decided to build a new church. It was too hard to make the old one bigger. So, the old church was taken down. A new one was built in its place.
In 1851, a survey showed the parish had 2,485 people. About 800 people attended evening services.
Architecture of the Church
How the Church is Built
The new church was designed by George Cheesman. He used the Early English style. It has a rectangular aisled nave. There is a short chancel and a short tower. The tower has battlements and octagonal turrets.
The church is built with knapped flint and red brick. An apse (a rounded end) was added later. Because of the land, it faces north–south instead of the usual east–west. It stands south of where the old church was.
The church has large, pointed lancet windows. The roof is strong and made of wood. The tower is at the front of the church. It has three bells from the 1700s. One bell was remade in 1886.
Some people liked the new church. The local newspaper said it was "convenient and well-arranged". But others were not so keen. Mark Antony Lower, a local historian, called it "a kind of hybrid between a castle and a barn". A travel guide from 1868 simply called it "modern, and ugly".
Inside the Church
Inside, cast iron posts hold up galleries. These galleries run along both sides of the nave. The ceiling is curved like a barrel. It has pine beams and is painted orange and brown.
The apse has beautiful stained glass windows. They were designed by Henry Holiday. Other windows in the aisles were made by Savell. One window from 1910 honors Arthur Perfect.
The church has a two-manual organ. It was built in 1882 and rebuilt in 1927. When the church first opened, people sat in box pews. Many seats were free, meaning people didn't have to pay to sit there. These free seats were in good spots in the nave. The box pews have since been replaced with open benches.
There are two fonts. One is from the 15th century. It's octagonal and has carvings. The other is from the late 1800s. Above the main door is a large painting of Jesus. It was painted in the 1500s. Above that are the royal coat of arms of George IV. The church's records go back to 1602.
Outside the Church
Some parts of the old church were used in the new one. The arch from the old Saxon south door is now in the north wall. It surrounds a grave-slab from the 1200s. Above the door is a stone from 1635. It shows the date the old church was repaired. It also has the names of the churchwardens from that time.
The Magnus Inscription
The "Magnus inscription" is a Latin carving. It's on 15 stones arranged in a semi-circle. A local historian saved these stones in 1587. They were from the old church's chancel when it was taken down. In 1635, they were put into the wall of the nave. Now, they are in the east outer wall of the new church.
The original stones are from around 1200. The writing is in an old medieval style. Some parts have been recarved. The inscription tells a story about a warrior named Magnus. It says he was from a royal Danish family. He became a humble anchorite (a religious hermit) to gain eternal life. The verse plays on his name, Magnus, which means "great" or "mighty" in Latin.
People used to believe Magnus was a Danish general. The story says he was captured but treated kindly. He then became a Christian hermit. Some thought he was Magnus, the son of King Harold II. But this idea has since been disproven.
Churchyard Features
The flint walls around the churchyard are also historic. They were listed as Grade II in 1970. On the north and west sides, they might follow the line of the old town walls. The churchyard is in the north-west corner of the walled town.
There are several carved gravestones in the churchyard. One belongs to Mark Sharp, a carpenter. He carved his own headstone and footstone. They show his carpenter's tools. The old chancel floor covers the burial vault of the Crofts family.
Russian Memorial
In the churchyard, there is an obelisk (a tall, thin monument). It was put up in 1877 by Tsar Alexander II of Russia. It remembers 28 Finnish soldiers. They were part of the Imperial Russian army. They were captured during the Crimean War at Bomarsund. They died of illness in a prison in Lewes.
The memorial was designed by Philip Currey. It was made by John Strong, a local stonemason. It looks like a tall, eight-sided tower with a spire and a cross. It lists the names of the 28 soldiers. It also says it was "Raised by Order of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia Alexander II 1877". The Soviet Embassy restored it in 1957. This memorial is also listed as Grade II.
The story of these prisoners inspired an opera. It's called The Finnish Prisoner by Orlando Gough. It was first performed in 2007.
Current Activities
St John sub Castro is still an active Anglican parish church. It is part of the diocese of Chichester. Each Sunday, it holds a modern, family-friendly morning service. It also has services of Holy Communion and evening prayer once a month.
The church has hosted the town's yearly Remembrance Sunday services. Musical concerts are also held in the church.
The church was listed as Grade II by English Heritage on March 16, 1970. This means it is "nationally important and of special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of many listed buildings in the Lewes area.
See also
