Polish Church of St. John the Evangelist, Putney facts for kids
The Polish Church of St. John the Evangelist (in Polish: Polski Kościół Św. Jana Ewangelisty) is a Catholic church located in Putney, London. It's a special building because it's listed as a Grade II building, meaning it's historically important and protected.
Contents
History of the Church
This church has a long and interesting history, starting in the mid-1800s.
Building the Church
The church was first built in 1858. The person who designed it was an architect named Charles Lee. When it was first built, it wasn't a Catholic church. It was actually an Anglican church, which is part of the Church of England. Even after it became a Catholic church later on, it kept its original name, St. John the Evangelist.
Church Expansions
Over the years, the church grew bigger with several additions:
- In 1865, the tall tower and its pointed top (called a spire) were made larger.
- In 1888, the main part of the church where the altar is (the chancel) and the side sections (the aisles) were extended.
- In 1898, a room used by the priests (the vestry) was made bigger.
- In 1910, a small chapel on the south side and an entrance area (the porch) were added.
World War II Damage
During the Second World War, in 1944, the church was badly damaged. This happened because of air raids, which were attacks from planes dropping bombs. The church had to close for several years to be fixed. It finally reopened in 1948. During the repairs, new stained glass windows were put in by an artist named Francis H Spear.
A New Purpose
In 1977, the church was no longer needed by the Anglican Church. It was then rented out to Polish Catholics, who continued to use it as a church. Later, in 2007, they were given full ownership of the building. The church is now managed by a group of missionaries called the Society of Christ Fathers. The money from the original rental agreement (£80,000) was used to help rebuild another church nearby, St Mary's Putney, which had been damaged by a fire.
