Church of St John the Baptist, Royston, Hertfordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parish Church of St. John the Baptist and St. Thomas of Canterbury |
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St. John the Baptist, Royston
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | roystonparishchurch.org.uk |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 14 June 1964 |
| Years built | c1250-1981 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Buntingford |
| Archdeaconry | Hertford |
| Diocese | St Albans (since 1877) |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St John the Baptist is an Anglican church located in the town of Royston, Hertfordshire, England. It's a very old building with a long history. The main parts of the church, like the nave (the central part where people sit) and the aisles (the side sections), were built around the year 1250.
Originally, these parts were the choir and sanctuary of a much larger church. This bigger church belonged to a group of monks called the Augustinians. Later, after the time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries (when many monasteries were closed down), this building became a regular church for the local community.
Contents
What is the Church of St John the Baptist?
The Church of St John the Baptist is a historic building in Royston, Hertfordshire. It is a place of worship for the Church of England. This church has been an important part of the town for hundreds of years. It is also a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered very special and important to England's history.
How Old is Royston's Church?
The oldest parts of the church were built around the year 1250. That's over 770 years ago! Imagine all the history this building has seen. It started as part of a large monastery. Monasteries were places where monks lived, worked, and prayed.
From Monastery to Parish Church
The church was first part of an Augustinian Priory. A priory is a type of monastery. The Augustinians were a group of monks who followed the rules of St. Augustine.
Later, in the 1500s, there was a big change in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This is when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries. After this, the church in Royston became a "parish church." This means it became the main church for the local area, serving the people of Royston.
Fire Damage and New Bells
On 9 December 2018, the Church of St John the Baptist faced a big challenge. A fire caused serious damage to the building. This was a sad event for the community.
What Happened to the Bells?
The church tower had eight bells. Three of these bells were very old, dating back to 1739. During the fire, the extreme heat caused all eight bells to crack. This meant they could no longer be rung.
However, the community worked hard to fix them. The bells were sent to a special company called John Taylor & Co in 2020. This company knows how to "recast" bells. Recasting means melting the old metal and pouring it into new molds to make brand new bells.
The good news is that the original bell-frame, which holds the bells, was built in 1901 and survived the fire. So, the new bells were hung in the same historic frame.
