Church of St John the Divine, Calder Grove facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Divine Calder Grove

Church of St John the Divine Calder Grove Location in West Yorkshire
53°38′51″N 1°32′09″W / 53.64750°N 1.53583°W / 53.64750; -1.53583
OS grid reference	SE 30779 16879
Location	Denby Dale Road West, Calder Grove, Wakefield West Yorkshire WF4 3FG
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Central
Website	The Church of England: St John the Divine, Calder Grove
History
Founded	1892
Dedication	St John the Divine
Dedicated	23 May 1893
Consecrated	23 May 1893
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II listed, no.1431631
Architect(s)	W. Swinden Barber, FRIBA
Architectural type	Church of England parish church
Style	Arts and Crafts movement Gothic Revival
Construction cost	£1,300
Closed	2018
Specifications
Floor area	Nave + chancel: 21.6 metres (71 ft) x 6 metres (20 ft)
Materials	Elland stone
Bells	1, in the bell gable
Administration
Parish	St. James, Chapelthorpe 400180 40/180
Deanery	Wakefield 40206
Archdeaconry	Pontefract 402
Diocese	Diocese of Wakefield

The Church of St John the Divine is a historic church building in Calder Grove, West Yorkshire, England. It was designed by the architect William Swinden Barber and built between 1892 and 1893. This church was created as a "mission church," which means it was built to serve a local community that didn't have its own church nearby.

The church is a "Grade II listed building," meaning it's officially recognized as an important historic place that needs to be protected. A local supporter named Mary Mackie paid for the church to be built in memory of her husband. The building combines two popular styles from its time: Gothic Revival and the Arts and Crafts.

From the outside, the church looks small and simple. Inside, it has a "low church" style, which means it's not overly decorated. However, it features a beautiful "scissor-truss" roof. This special roof has criss-crossing wooden beams that still show their original painted designs from 1892. The Church of St John the Divine closed its doors in 2018.

Where is the Church Located?
Who Helped Build the Church?
When Was the Church Built?
Who Was the Architect?
What Does the Building Look Like?
- Outside the Church
- Inside the Church
Changes and Repairs Over Time
Past Curates
Services and Events
Images for kids
See also

Where is the Church Located?

The Church of St John the Divine is in Calder Grove, a small area near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. It's situated just off Denby Dale Road. When the church was built, this area was mostly rural with some coal mines nearby.

Who Helped Build the Church?

The church was built thanks to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Mackie (1844–1922). She wanted to honor her husband, John Mackie (1836–1891), after he passed away. The same architect, W.S. Barber, also designed another church and some almshouses (homes for the poor) for Mrs. Mackie in New Mills, Derbyshire.

John Mackie came from a wealthy family. His father was a successful corn merchant, and his brother, Robert Bownas Mackie, was a Member of Parliament for Wakefield. John Mackie himself owned a coal mine and a clay works in Crigglestone. He was also a kind person who helped his community. He paid for a new school in Painthorpe and was involved in local government and charities. He taught Sunday school and was president of the Wakefield YMCA. He died at 54 after catching a cold during his 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

Mary Mackie was also very active in the community. She held parties for local workers and started a girls' club. Besides funding the Church of St John the Divine, she also paid for a stained glass window in another church, though it was later destroyed by fire. She also built a community institute, which was later moved next to St John's Church to be used as a church hall. This hall was taken down in 2014.

When Was the Church Built?

Plans for the church were approved in April 1892. It cost about £1,300 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The land for the church was given by Colonel Albany Hawkes Charlesworth, a local Member of Parliament, who also donated £100 towards the building costs.

The church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Wakefield on May 23, 1893. Many important people from the area attended the ceremony, including Mrs. Mackie and her family. After the service, more money was collected to help with church expenses.

Who Was the Architect?

St James the Less, New Mills, also designed by W.S. Barber

The architect, William Swinden Barber (1832–1908), was well-known for his Gothic Revival and Arts and Crafts designs. He worked in Halifax and Brighouse and created many churches and other buildings. Many of his designs are now "Grade II listed buildings," meaning they are protected for their historical importance.

Some of his famous works include Spring Hall in Halifax and the Victoria Cross at Akroydon. He also designed the large Church of St Jude in Halifax. Importantly, Barber had already designed St James the Less Church in New Mills for Mrs. Mackie in 1880. This church looks quite similar to St John the Divine and was dedicated to her parents.

What Does the Building Look Like?

Inside St John's Church

The Church of St John the Divine is built from local "Elland stone" with "Huddersfield stone" for details. In 1893, it was described as a "Mission church in the Early English style." The main part of the church, called the nave, was about 50 feet (15 meters) long, and the chancel (the area around the altar) was 22 feet (6.7 meters) long. The original wooden pews, made of pine, are still there today, though they have been re-varnished. The east window, installed in 1893, is a special memorial to John Mackie.

Outside the Church

The church porch

The church's design is simple, showing the "low church" style popular in the Victorian era. It uses basic elements of Gothic Revival architecture. The nave and chancel are combined into one open space, without columns or side aisles. There's a simple porch on the north side that leads into the church. On the south side, a smaller section holds the organ and a room for the clergy. The only decorations on the outside are two small crosses on the roof and porch, and some simple carvings above the west window and porch archway.

Inside the Church

The unique scissor-truss roof

When you step inside, the most striking feature is the "scissor-truss" roof. This roof has special wooden beams that cross each other like scissors. Even after more than a century, the beams in the chancel still have their original painted designs, called "stencils," created by Powell Bros of Leeds. Old photos show that the walls of the nave also had hidden stencil paintings, but these are now covered by plaster.

The church has four stained glass windows in the chancel. The east window from 1893 shows Jesus Christ and the "Lamb of God" and is dedicated to John Mackie. The two north windows show John the Baptist and John the Divine. The south window shows the Virgin Mary and Child. These windows were likely installed in the early 1900s.

Many of the church's original items were designed by William Swinden Barber himself. These include the iron bolt and door handles on the porch door. He also designed the carved wooden pulpit (where sermons are given), the altar-front, the pews (church benches), and the choir stalls. The carved stone font (used for baptisms) was also his design.

The church also has a pipe organ from the early 20th century. The bell tower holds the original bell from 1893, made by Mears & Stainbank. The bell rope goes through a hole in the roof and hangs inside the west window.

Changes and Repairs Over Time

In 1903, part of the chancel collapsed because of old mine workings underneath. It was rebuilt using Barber's original plans and the same materials. However, the stencil paintings on the east wall were lost during this repair.
Over the years, some of the crosses on the roof were moved from their original planned positions.
The plaster on the west wall has been replaced many times due to dampness, which means any original stencil paintings there are now gone.
In the 21st century, the original altar designed by Barber was taken apart. Only its carved wooden front remains. Also, the dark-varnished pews and choir stalls were stripped and re-varnished in a lighter color.
Around 2014, there were plans to change the church so it could also be used as a hall for events to help raise money. This would have meant selling Barber's original pews and moving the font. The plans also included removing two windows and adding a kitchen and toilet, which would have changed the church's original design. If these plans had gone through, the church would have lost much of its original look and furnishings.

Past Curates

A "curate" is a priest who helps the main vicar or rector of a church. Here are some of the curates who served at St John the Divine:

The first curate was Charles Oldroyd, who served from 1896 to 1898.
Walter Charles Gosling followed him, serving from 1899 to 1908. He had studied at Oxford University.
Other curates included Thomas Hadfield (1910–1912) and Charles David Day (1912–1914) before World War I.
During World War I, William Lesswaine Brambston served from 1915 to 1920.
Between the World Wars, five different curates served, including Robert Clement Owen, George Goode, James Albert Kings, and Fred Herrington.
Philip Melville Berry was the curate when World War II began in 1938, serving until 1942, when Ronald Ernest Helm took over.

Services and Events

As of 2014, the church was part of the Chapelthorpe benefice, led by Canon Ian Michael Gaskell. The church used to hold a Sunday communion service with hymns and a sermon. After the service, refreshments were served in the church hall next door, but that building was taken down in 2014.