Church of St John the Evangelist, Clevedon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Evangelist |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1878 |
| Location | |
| Location | Clevedon, Somerset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Butterfield |
| Architectural type | Church |
The Church of St John the Evangelist is a Church of England church located in Clevedon, Somerset, England. It was designed by the famous architect William Butterfield. The church was built between 1876 and 1878. Sir Arthur Elton paid for its construction. Since 1976, it has been recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is a very important historic site.
Building a New Church: St John's History
Why St John's Was Built
St John's Church was built because the town of Clevedon was growing very fast. More people meant more places of worship were needed. So, a new area called South Clevedon was created in February 1876. St John's became its main church.
Who Paid for the Church?
Sir Arthur Elton lived at Clevedon Court. He decided to pay for the entire church himself. He also paid for the vicarage, which is the house for the church's priest. Sir Arthur hired William Butterfield, a well-known architect, to design the church. He also promised to give the church £100 every year to help it run.
Building Begins and the "Barn Church"
The first stone of the church was laid on October 19, 1876. This special event was led by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord Arthur Hervey. A builder named Mr. William Restall worked on the construction. While the church was being built, people still needed a place to worship. So, they used some farm buildings nearby. These temporary buildings were even called the "Barn Church."
Opening Day for St John's
The church was finally finished and ready. The Bishop of Bath and Wells officially opened and blessed the church on April 30, 1878. This was a big day for the community.
Other Buildings by Sir Arthur Elton
Sir Arthur Elton also helped the community in other ways. In 1879, he started St John's National School. This school was rebuilt in 1889. Later, in 1991, a new school was opened, and the old school building became a library. The church also got its own hall, which was built in the 1920s.
Exploring St John's Church Architecture
What the Church is Made Of
St John's Church is built from local stone. It also uses Bath stone for special details. The roof is covered with tiles. The church is designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks back to the grand churches of the medieval period. The church was built to hold 500 people.
Parts of the Church Building
The church has several main parts:
- A nave: This is the main area where the congregation sits.
- North and south aisles: These are the side sections next to the nave.
- A chancel: This is the area near the altar, often used by the choir and clergy.
- North and south transepts: These are parts that stick out from the sides, making the church look like a cross from above.
- A vestry: This is a room where clergy prepare for services.
- A south-west tower: This tower holds six bells. Originally, it had five bells.
In 1883–84, another vestry and a new porch were added to the church.
Inside the Church: Details and Decorations
The chancel and nave have a low clerestory. This means there are small windows high up on the walls. The floor is covered with special patterned tiles and plain tiles. The lower parts of the walls in the nave and aisles are lined with Staffordshire tiles.
The walls of the chancel and the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) are made from different types of marble and Bath stone. In the center of the reredos, there is a marble cross. It is surrounded by four symbols representing the Evangelists (like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). This beautiful part was hidden by wood panels until the 1990s.
Windows and Stained Glass
The church's windows have a design called "middle pointed tracery." There is also a large round "rose window" in the north transept. The beautiful stained glass windows in the chancel and the south transept were made by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne from London.
Pulpit, Choir, and Organ
The pulpit (where the preacher stands) and the choir fittings are made from oak and walnut wood. The church's organ was built by Henry Willis & Sons. It was a gift from Mr T. Sheldon.
Solving a Building Problem
In 1909, the stone arch inside the church had some problems because the ground was sinking a little. To fix this, the stone arch was replaced with a strong metal beam and an iron screen. This work was done by C. S. Hare.
