St John's, Aberdeen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Aberdeen |
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The Church of St John the Evangelist
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| 57°08′36″N 2°06′04″W / 57.143324°N 2.101135°W | |
| Location | Crown Street, Aberdeen |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Website | https://www.stjohnsaberdeen.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Consecrated | 6 May 1851 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Matthew and Mackenzie |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 20 November 1849 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Granite with Burntisland stone dressings |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Aberdeen & Orkney |
St John the Evangelist — often called St John's — is a historic church in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church. You can find it just off Crown Street. This church has a long and interesting history, stretching back over 300 years.
Contents
A Look Back: How St John's Began
The Early Days: A New Start
The story of St John's Church began way back in 1693. At that time, a minister named Dr. George Garden was asked to leave his church, the Kirk of St Nicholas. This happened because he disagreed with the new rules of the Presbyterian church.
After some time away, Dr. Garden came back to Aberdeen around 1720. Many people who had followed him before gathered around him again. This group of people became the first members of what would later be St John's Church.
Meeting Places Over the Years
For the next 130 years, this church group didn't have one main building. They met in different houses around Aberdeen. Eventually, they used a larger building in Golden Square. This building was dedicated to St John the Evangelist, just like the church today.
Several important leaders guided the church during these years. Andrew Gerard was a minister at St John's from 1728. He later became the Bishop of Aberdeen, serving until 1767. Another minister, Roger Aitken, led the church from 1782 to 1814.
The Church Building We See Today
Building a New Home
The current St John's Church building was constructed between 1849 and 1851. It was designed by architects Mackenzie and Matthews. The church was officially opened for worship on May 6, 1851. Since then, people have gathered there continuously for services.
Today, the church is listed as a Category B building by Historic Environment Scotland. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Changes and New Ideas
During the time of Rev. Patrick Cheyne, who was a minister for a long time, there were some disagreements about church beliefs. After him, Rev. Frederick G Lee took over but soon left to start a new church.
In 1861, a new minister named John Comper came to St John's. During his time, a day school was built next to the church. This school was named in honor of Rev. Cheyne's 40 years with St John's. Also, in 1863, the first sister from the Society of Saint Margaret arrived to help the church community.
John Comper left St John's in 1870 to focus on a new mission in a poorer area of Aberdeen. The beautiful reredos (a screen behind the altar) in St John's was designed by his son, Sir Ninian Comper, to remember his parents.
Sharing the Space
In 2013, St John's Church did something special. It became the first church in Scotland to invite Muslims to share its building. This happened because the nearby mosque was too small, and some people had to pray outside. This shows how St John's is a welcoming place for everyone.
Special Features of the Church
The Ancient Font
One of the most interesting items in St John's Church is its stone baptismal font. This font is very old, dating back to before the Reformation. It came from a ruined church in Kinkell, near Inverurie.
The font has eight sides, with special designs on each one. You can even see the initials of Canon Alexander Galloway, who was the rector of Kinkell from 1516 to 1552. The base of the font was designed by Aberdeen architect James Mitchell in 1851, when it was placed in St John's.
Images for kids
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Grave of Rev. Roger Aitken, a former minister at St John's, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
