Church of St John the Baptist, Barnstaple facts for kids
The Church of St John the Baptist is a special church in Barnstaple, a town in Devon, England. It's the main church for the Newport area and belongs to the Anglican faith, which is a type of Christian church. It's part of the Diocese of Exeter, which is like a local church district.
A Look Back at the Church's History
This church has a long story! Back in 1829, a smaller church was built here. It was on the same spot where an even older chapel used to be. This first church was called a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church built to help people in Newport attend services more easily, as the main church was in Bishop's Tawton.
In 1847, the Newport area became its own independent church parish. At this time, the church building needed a lot of repairs. So, a brand new church was built! The church you see today was finished in 1882.
What the Church is Made Of
The main parts of the church, like the nave (the central area where people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar), are built from local limestone. The north aisle, vestries (rooms for clergy and choir), and the north porch are also made of this stone.
In the 1960s, a church hall was added next to the main church. It's connected by a covered walkway, making it easy to go between the two buildings.
Remembering Important Moments
Inside the church, on the north wall, there's a special memorial. It honors the brave men from the parish who sadly lost their lives during World War II.
In 1929, the church celebrated its 100th birthday! To mark this big event, some new things were added. These included a choir vestry, a new bell, and beautiful new windows on the north side of the church. The celebrations were led by Lord William Cecil, who was the Bishop of Exeter at the time.
