St John's Church, Abergavenny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Johns's Church, Abergavenny |
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Gateway to tower
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| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Dedication | St. John |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | masonic lodge |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed building |
| Designated | 5 July 1952 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Abergavenny |
St John's Church was once the main church for the town of Abergavenny in Monmouthshire. It served as the local parish church until a big change happened in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After that, a different church, St Mary's Priory, became the new parish church for the town.
St John's Church then got a new purpose: it became a grammar school. Today, it is part of a masonic lodge, which is a meeting place for a special club called the Freemasons. Only a few parts of the original church building are still standing, including its tall tower and a section called the nave (the main part of a church).
Contents
A Long History: From Church to School
St John's Church is the oldest church building in Abergavenny. Its tower and the main part of the church (the nave) were built a very long time ago, in the 1300s. Imagine, the bell in the tower used to ring every night to tell everyone that the town gates were closing for the curfew!
The Church Changes Hands
In 1536, a big event called the Dissolution of the Monasteries took place in England. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many religious houses, including the nearby Benedictine priory dedicated to St Mary. The people of Abergavenny were already using the main part of St Mary's Priory church. They asked King Henry VIII if St Mary's could become their new parish church, and in 1539, it did!
Becoming a Grammar School
Around 1542 or 1543, King Henry VIII took over St John's Church. He decided to turn it into a school called the King Henry VIII Grammar School. This school was paid for by tithes, which were like taxes. These taxes used to go to St Mary's Priory and another priory in Usk. This new school was the very first grammar school in the whole county!
The tower of the church was rebuilt around 1750. It was described as a very interesting old building for its time. The building continued to be a school for many years, right up until 1998, when a brand new school building opened in a different part of town.
A New Chapter: The Masonic Lodge
In 1899, a local architect named E. A. Johnson, who was also a freemason, changed the old school building into a masonic lodge. It was first known as the Second Philanthropic Lodge. Then, in 1902, its name was changed to St. John's Lodge. Today, it's simply called the Abergavenny Masonic Hall or Centre.
This lodge has some special old papers called masonic certificates. These certificates were given to French officers who were prisoners of war in Abergavenny in 1813 and 1814. The building itself became a special listed building on July 5, 1952, meaning it's protected because of its historical importance.
