Church of St John the Baptist, Frome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist, Frome |
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St John the Baptist, Frome
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.sjfrome.co.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed building |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Frome |
| Archdeaconry | Wells |
| Diocese | Bath and Wells |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St John the Baptist, Frome is a special church in the town of Frome, Somerset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is considered a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building.
The first church here was started by a person named Aldhelm around 685 AD. The old Saxon building was later replaced in the late 1100s. The church grew over time, with new parts added until about 1420, making it the size it is today. In 1852, a vicar named William James Early Bennett became the priest. He made big changes to how the church was run and to the building itself.
The church was later restored by Charles Edmund Giles. It has beautiful stained glass windows made by Charles Eamer Kempe and statues by James Forsyth. Outside the church, there's a special holy well. There's also a unique path called the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). This path has stone carvings that show seven scenes from the story of Jesus's journey to the cross. It's the only one of its kind in an Anglican church in England.
History of the Church
The church you see today, with its tall tower and spire, was built between the late 1100s and early 1400s. It replaced an even older church. This first church was founded by Aldhelm around 685 AD. He got permission from Pope Sergius I to set up a group of priests. Their job was to spread the Christian faith in the Selwood Forest area.
The very first church, probably made of wood, likely stood on the same rocky spot as the current church. This spot is between two streams. By the late 1000s, the church was made of stone. Its lands were even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous old survey of England. In the 1800s, some old stone pieces, possibly from the 700s or 800s, were found. They were placed near the entrance of St Andrew's Chapel. One piece might have been part of an old standing cross. Recent discoveries in 2021 show that the older church was located inside the eastern part of the current church's main area.
In the 1300s and 1400s, special chapels were added. These were called chantry chapels, dedicated to saints like St Andrew, St Nicholas, and Our Lady. Around 1418, William Starke was the vicar.
After 1643, when Puritans ordered the removal of stained glass, the church building was not well cared for. By the early 1800s, it really needed repairs. When the South Aisle was being rebuilt in the 1860s, old foundations were found. These might have been from the Saxon period, but they were quickly covered up so the work could continue. Some parts of the church were restored in the 1840s by the Longleat family.
A very important priest named William James Early Bennett became the vicar in 1852. Bennett was known for his strong beliefs about church teachings. He was a key leader in the Oxford Movement, a group that wanted to bring back older traditions in the Church of England. He had left his previous church in London after disagreements about church practices.
Soon after Bennett arrived, he made big changes. He stopped the system where wealthy people bought special seats in the church. Many of the old seats and balconies were removed. He also divided the parish into 12 areas. He started schools, classes, a health clinic, and other charities to help the people of Frome. He even set up a choir school for boys and nurseries for the children of factory workers. He bought land next to the old grammar school, combined the sites, and built a new school. This building is now used as the church hall and is called the Bennett Centre. Bennett also published a magazine called The Old Church Porch, which was an early example of a parish magazine.
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The main architect for the restoration work in the 1850s and 1860s was Charles Edmund Giles. Bennett hired a sculptor named James Forsyth to carve statues of saints and the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar). Forsyth also carved the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) next to the steps on the north side of the church.
The church was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building in 1983. The parish of Frome (St John the Baptist) is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
Church Architecture
The church has a chancel (the area around the altar), a Lady chapel (a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary), and a baptistery (where baptisms take place). It also has a long main area called a nave. You can still see parts of the original Norman architecture (a style from the 1000s and 1100s), like carved stones at the bottom of the tower.
The inside of the church is beautifully decorated with sculptures and stained glass windows. Most of the stained glass was made by Charles Eamer Kempe. The baptismal font (a basin used for baptisms) was found under the floor in the 1800s and restored. It's surrounded by a special floor design by Clayton & Bell that shows the seven virtues and seven deadly sins.
There are brass gates leading to the Chancel and a metal screen in the Lady Chapel. Both were made locally by John Webb Singer. The church also has a lovely brass lectern (a stand for reading) and brass candlesticks, which might also be from Singer's workshop.
Outside the east end of the church is the tomb of Thomas Ken (1637–1711). He was an English church leader known for writing many hymns. He is remembered in the Church of England on June 8th.
The Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) is very special because it's made of stone carvings. It was added in the 1860s. The carvings by James Forsyth show seven scenes from the Stations of the Cross. The first scene shows Jesus being judged. The second shows him carrying his cross. The third sculpture shows Jesus falling and being helped by Simon of Cyrene. The next scene is Jesus meeting his mother, and then having his clothes removed. As you walk up the steps towards the church, the last carvings show Jesus being nailed to the cross and then his death.
Near the churchyard, there's a well fed by a spring. Every May, people decorate this well in a tradition called well dressing.
The fancy screen and gates at the entrance to the churchyard were built in 1814 by Jeffrey Wyatt. This was when a new road called Bath Street was built.
Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ with three keyboards. The oldest parts of the organ are from around 1680, made by Renatus Harris. Other parts were added later by different builders like Young, Richard Seede, and Vowles. In 1923, the organ was rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
