St John's, Notting Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John's Notting Hill
St John's Notting Hill in August 2013
Location	Ladbroke Grove, London
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	High Church
Website	stjohnsnottinghill.com
Architecture
Architect(s)	John Hargrave Stevens, George Alexander
Style	Victorian Gothic
Years built	1845
Administration
Parish	St John's Notting Hill
Diocese	Diocese of London

St John's Notting Hill is a beautiful old Anglican church in Notting Hill, London. It was built in 1845 in a style called Victorian Gothic. The church was designed by architects John Hargrave Stevens and George Alexander.

It was built as the main building for a new housing area called the Ladbroke Estate. This estate was planned in the mid-1800s. It aimed to bring wealthy families to what was then a quiet, countryside part of London.

History of St John's Church

Early Plans for the Ladbroke Estate

In 1821, a man named James Weller Ladbroke started planning a large housing estate. He worked with an architect named Thomas Allason. This land is now the southern part of Ladbroke Grove.

For a few years, from 1837 to 1841, some of this land was used as a race-course. It was called the Kensington Hippodrome. The hill where St John's Church now stands was a natural viewing spot for spectators.

However, the race-course did not make much money. It closed by 1843. Soon after, the circular race-track was replaced by rows of houses.

Building the Church

St John's Church is now a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building. It stands on the highest point of the Ladbroke Estate. The church is named after St John the Evangelist.

It was built to hold about 1,500 people. The church was designed in a style called Early English. Its tall spire looks a lot like the spire of St Mary's Church in Witney, Oxfordshire. St John's has a Gothic look, which is different from the classical style of St Peter's Church, built later nearby.

Money for the church was raised by people giving donations. Two large loans of £2,000 each were given. One was from Viscount Canning, and the other from Charles Blake. Charles Blake also helped pay for St Peter's.

Construction and Dedication

Work on St John's Church began on January 8, 1844. The first stone was laid by John Sinclair. He was the Vicar of Kensington from 1842 to 1875. During his time, 19 new churches were built in Kensington, and St John's was the first.

The church was officially opened on January 29, 1845. This ceremony was led by Dr Charles James Blomfield, who was the Bishop of London.

Because the church was in a rural area, it was first known as "St John in the Hayfields."

St John's Today: Community and Events

The current vicar of St John's Church is the Reverend William Taylor.

St John's Church is a very active part of its local community. Many events are held there throughout the year.

Annual May Fair

One popular event is the annual May Fair. This is a fun family event held in May. It usually takes place on the second or third Saturday of the month.

The fair has many stalls. You can find bric-a-brac, old jewelry, homemade cakes, and jams. There are also books, toys, and plants for sale. A raffle and tombola add to the excitement.

For kids, there are lots of activities. These include a bouncy castle, face painting, and a coconut shy. You can also get candy floss or decorate cakes. There's a "Beat-the-Goalie" game and a Fancy Dress Competition. Judging for the costume contest happens at 3:30 PM.

Food and drinks are also available. There's a barbecue outside and a Pimms stall. Traditional tea, cakes, and sandwiches are sold downstairs in the church's crypt. The May Fair is part of the bigger Notting Hill Mayfest.

Music Recitals

Every Thursday, the church hosts free classical chamber music concerts. These concerts are held from 1 PM to 2 PM. They are organized by a local record company called Music Chamber.

Visitors can also enjoy free coffee, tea, and biscuits. At the end of the concert, people can choose to give a donation.

Gallery

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  Memorial to Phillip Edward Webb, East Transept

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  St Johns Notting Hill spire