St John's Church, Bath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church |
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St John's Church, with parish hall and office
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 St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church
Location in Somerset
St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church
Location in England
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| 51°22′47″N 2°21′20″W / 51.37982°N 2.35558°W | |
| Location | Bath |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles Francis Hansom |
| Style | Victorian architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1861 |
| Completed | 1863, spire: 1867 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 222 feet (68 m) |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | St Oliver Plunkett |
| Metropolis | Archdiocese of Birmingham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Clifton |
| Province | Ecclesiastical province of Birmingham |
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church is a beautiful church located in the city of Bath, England. It stands on the South Parade, in an older part of the city. This church is a significant landmark in Bath, known for its impressive design and history.
Church Design and Features
The church has a very detailed Gothic style, which was popular in the Victorian times. Its tall, decorative spire is one of the tallest points in Bath and can be seen from far away. Some people, like the famous writer Nikolaus Pevsner, thought the church's style didn't fit well with Bath's older Georgian buildings.
However, others, like Christopher Martin, have praised its inside. He noted the colorful polished marble, beautiful screens, and the bright white tabernacle. The church also has delicate communion rails and special areas called chapels, each with unique details.
Who Designed the Church?
The church was designed and built between 1861 and 1863 by an architect named Charles Francis Hansom. His brother, J. A. Hansom, was famous for inventing the Hansom cab, a type of horse-drawn carriage. The Hansom brothers were well-known for their work on Catholic churches. They even helped design parts of Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire.
The church walls are made from local Bath stone. Charles Hansom added the tall spire, which is about 222 feet (68 m) high, in 1867. His son, Edward Joseph Hansom, designed the baptistery in 1871. This area holds a shrine with relics of Saint Justina of Padua. The Hansom brothers thought St. John's Church was one of their best projects.
The church's interior features include circular pink granite pillars with detailed tops. It also has an iron screen and beautiful stained glass windows, especially in the rose windows, which are known for their bright colors.
Church History
The Benedictine monks from Downside Abbey originally built St. John's Church. They also built other buildings next to it to house a small group of priests. In 1932, the church was given to the Diocese of Clifton.
During World War II, in 1942, Bath was bombed. The church was hit, and sadly, four people died. The south side of the church was destroyed, but it was later rebuilt in the same Gothic style.
Today, the church's steeple is home to a pair of peregrine falcons. These birds are very fast and powerful. You can even watch them on a special webcam that monitors their nesting site!
The Parish Community
The church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton and is one of four Catholic churches in Bath. Currently, there are three priests serving the community. One of the priests is from Poland and holds a special Mass in Polish every Sunday for the local Polish community.
The main priest, Father Christopher Whitehead, became the Parish Priest in September 2019. He celebrated 20 years as a priest in 2019.
