Church of St John the Baptist, Newport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. John the Baptist, Newport |
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The church from St John's Road
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Open Evangelical |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. John the Baptist |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Newport, Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St. John the Baptist is a special church found in Newport, Isle of Wight. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very important because it's a "Grade II listed building." This means it's a historic building that needs to be protected. It's also the only building still standing that was designed by a British architect named Robert Gunter Wetten.
Contents
Church History
Building the Church
Work on the Church of St. John the Baptist began in 1835. The building was finished just two years later, in 1837. It is located where St. John's Road and Terrace Road meet. Building the church cost about £3,600, which was a lot of money back then! It was built with enough space for 830 people to sit.
Becoming a Parish Church
The church was officially opened on April 4, 1837. This special ceremony is called "consecration." It was performed by Charles Sumner, who was the Bishop of Winchester at the time.
When it first opened, St. John's was a "daughter church." This means it was part of a larger church area called Carisbrooke Parish. It was known as St. John's Church, Carisbrooke.
Later, in 1896, the church became a "parish church" on its own. This change was made by the Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. Today, the Church of St. John the Baptist is part of a combined parish. It works together with Sts Thomas Minster, St Mary's, Carisbrooke, and St Olave's, Gatcombe.
The Church Organ
About the Organ
When the church first opened in 1837, it already had an organ. This original organ was later replaced. In 1890, a new pipe organ was installed. It was made by a company called Bryceson Brothers. You can find detailed information about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organ Players
Many talented people have played the organ at St. John the Baptist Church over the years. The first known organist was J.H. Mew, who started in 1836. Since 1980, the church's organist has been John Matthews.
