Church of St John the Baptist, Keynsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist |
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| Location | Keynsham Somerset, England |
| Built | c. 1270 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 27 February 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1384628 |
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The Church of St John the Baptist is an Anglican church in Keynsham, Somerset, England. It was built around 1270. This church is considered a very important old building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
The church was once closely connected to Keynsham Abbey. This connection lasted until the Abbey was closed down in 1539. In 1632, a tall part of the church, called the spire, fell down. A new bell tower was then built at the church's western end. Since then, the church has been repaired and updated many times. It has also been involved in helping people locally and around the world.
Inside the stone church, you can see old items like the pulpit, a font, and shiny brass chandeliers. The church's organ has been changed and moved since it was first put in back in 1847. There's a cool story that the famous musician George Frideric Handel once traded two bells for an older organ from this church. However, this story might not be true. The bells in the tower are very old, dating back to the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s.
Contents
History of the Church
There was a church in Keynsham as early as the 800s. In the 1100s, Keynsham Abbey was built. It served as the main place of worship for the town. Around 1270, a separate church was built for the town's people. The Abbey was in charge of the chancel (the area around the altar), while the town looked after the rest of the church. The Abbey and the town didn't always get along. This continued until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, when many monasteries were closed.
The Church of St John the Baptist slowly changed over time. It got its current look during the reign of King Charles II. This happened after the church's spire collapsed during a big storm in 1632. The new tower was built from stones that came from the ruined Abbey. It stands tall over the western entrance. Along with the new tower, other repairs were done between 1634 and 1655. This included adding a new pulpit.
In the 1700s and early 1800s, fewer people attended the church. The building also started to fall apart. By 1843, the south porch was even being used to store coal, and the roof was leaking! In the 1850s, George Robinson became the new vicar. He helped bring the church back to life. He rebuilt the vicarage (the vicar's house) for his 13 children. He also started a church school and raised money to fix the church itself.
These repairs included removing old box pews (enclosed seats) and fixing the windows. The arches inside the church were rebuilt, and gas lighting was added. The roof was repaired, and the walls were re-plastered. All this work cost about £4,000. Much of the restoration was done by Benjamin Ferrey between 1861 and 1863. As the building was fixed, more services were held, and more people joined the church.
In the 1900s, Keynsham's population grew, partly because of the Somerdale Factory. Douglas Percival Hatchard became the vicar in 1901. He continued to work on the church school and raised money for more church repairs. The church even got its heating from a local electric company! After World War I, a memorial was built to remember those who had died.
During World War II, the vicar was Vernon Graham Havergal Shaw. He believed in peace and did not want prayers to be said for the troops. This caused some disagreements with church members. In the 1950s, more problems were found in the church's wood. It was damaged by deathwatch beetles and wet rot. Repairs cost over £15,000. Mervyn Wedgewood became vicar in 1956 as the town continued to grow. He helped start new groups and classes for the community. He also oversaw the building of a new church called St Francis.
Church Design and Features
The church has a long main hall called a nave. It has eight sections, with aisles on the north and south sides. There's also a south porch and a vestry (a room for the clergy). The tall west tower has three levels and is supported by strong buttresses. Inside, you can see special Hammerbeam roofs and beautiful stained glass windows from the 1800s.
Inside the Church
The pulpit where sermons are given dates back to 1634. There's also a screen from the same time that separates the choir area. The small font at the front of the church was given by Harry Bridges in 1725. Three shiny brass chandeliers hang in the nave. They were given by Mrs Ann Tilly in 1717.
The Church Organ
The first record of a pipe organ in the church is from 1847. A new organ was installed on the west gallery. In the 1860s, it was moved to the east end of the south aisle. Then, in the 1880s, it was made bigger. The part where the organist plays was moved to the chancel. An electric blower was added in 1939 to make the organ work. The organ has been repaired and updated several times since then, including in 1986, 1991, and 2000.
There's a story that a very old organ once stood in the church. It was said to have such a beautiful sound that the famous composer George Frideric Handel wanted it. Around 1730, he supposedly offered a set of bells in exchange for the organ. The church accepted, and Handel took the organ, while the bells were delivered.
The Church Bells
Five of the eight church bells in the bell tower survived when the spire collapsed in 1632. The oldest bell we know about is the Great Bell, paid for by Nicholas St Loe in 1508. The Sanctus Bell, from 1531, hangs in the bell tower but is not part of the main set of ringing bells. Other bells date from 1602, 1607, and 1613. A third bell was added around 1654 when the tower was finished.
In 1731, the Bilbie family, who were famous bell makers, cast two more bells. The smallest bell has these lines written on it:
"I value not who doth me see
For Thomas Bilbie casted me;
Althow my sound it is but small
I can be heard amongst you all."
In 1987, all the bells were taken down from the tower. They were recast (melted down and reshaped) by White's of Appleton. Then, they were electronically tuned by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
The Keynsham Parish
St. John the Baptist church is one of five churches in the Church of England Parish of Keynsham. The other churches are St. Michael's in Burnett, St. Margaret's in Queen Charlton, the "Mission Church" in Chewton Keynsham, and St. Francis' Church. St. Francis' Church was updated between 2013 and 2015 and has halls for community groups.
The Keynsham church area is part of the larger church region called the archdeaconry of Bath.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
