Church of St John the Evangelist, Tatworth 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 | 1851 |
| Location | |
| Location | Tatworth, Somerset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles Pinch |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Early English |
The Church of St John the Evangelist is a special church in Tatworth, Somerset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This beautiful building was constructed between 1850 and 1851. A person named Charles Pinch from Bath designed it. Today, it is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building.
Contents
How the Church Came to Be
A Need for a Local Church
Back in 1840, people in Tatworth really needed a church closer to home. The main church, St Mary the Virgin in Chard, was quite far away. Some people lived up to three and a half miles away! A local church would make it much easier for everyone to attend services.
Reverend John Edwin Lance, who was the rector of Buckland St Mary, helped start the idea. He gave £100 to begin building a small church, sometimes called a "chapel of ease." This was a big step towards getting a new church for Tatworth.
Getting Ready to Build
After Rev. Lance's donation, more money was collected. A man named Mr. J. B. Coles offered a piece of land for the church. The Bath and Wells Diocesan Church Building Association also gave £95.
In June 1841, a special meeting was held. They chose a different spot for the church, which was given by Earl Poulett. He was the lord of the manor. Earl Poulett also donated £50 and even provided building stone from his own quarries! Everyone hoped construction would start very soon.
Construction Begins
The Church Commissioners approved the building plans. These plans were drawn up by Mr. Charles Pinch from Bath. However, there was a delay, and building didn't start right away.
The project was restarted a few years later. On June 18, 1850, the foundation stone was laid. This is a special ceremony where the first stone of a building is placed. Mrs. Whitehead, the wife of the local vicar, Rev. W. B. Whitehead, did the honors. Mr. W. Davis of Langport was the builder, and Mr. Pinch oversaw the work.
The Church Opens
The church was finished in 1851. It was officially opened and blessed on September 9, 1851. This special event is called a consecration. The Bishop of Jamaica, Rev. Aubrey Spencer, performed the ceremony. He did it on behalf of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who was unwell.
The church cost about £1,400 to build. Most of the money, about £1,250, came from people donating. Grants also came from different church building groups. In 1866, Tatworth became its own church area, or "ecclesiastical parish." St John's then became the main church for the area.
New Additions and Updates
In 1860, Mr. J. B. Payne from Chard gave an organ to the church. To make space for it, people raised money to build a gallery at the back of the church. The churchyard, which is the land around the church, was made bigger in 1874.
A brand new organ was installed in 1897. It was built by Henry Speechly and Sons. This new organ was officially opened on May 6, 1897.
The church had some important repairs and updates between 1910 and 1911. The roof was fixed, and the walls of the vestry (a room used by the clergy) were repaired. Mr. J. H. Bishop of Chard did this work. The organ was also fixed up in 1959. This cost £400 and was rededicated in 1960. More restoration work was done on the church at the same time. Later, a church hall was added to the building.
What Does It Look Like?
St John's Church is built using local stone and flint. It has special Hamstone around the windows and doors, and the roofs are made of slate.
The church has a long main area called a nave. It also has a chancel, which is the part near the altar, and a vestry. There's a porch at the south side where people enter. At the west end, there's a small tower, called a turret. This turret holds two bells and has a spire on top. The roof inside has arched wooden beams that look very nice. There is also a gallery at the back of the nave.
Inside, you'll find a pulpit and a reading desk made of carved oak. The font, which is used for baptisms, is octagonal (eight-sided) and made of Bath stone. In 1891, a beautiful reredos was added behind the altar. This was designed and carved by the vicar, Rev. Henry Stuart King. The church also has lovely stained glass windows. Some were added in 1905, and another in the south chancel was installed in 1962.
