St John's Church, Blackpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackpool Church – St John's |
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| Church of Saint John the Evangelist | |
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St John's Church, from Church Street
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 Blackpool Church – St John's
Location in Blackpool
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| 53°49′06″N 3°03′03″W / 53.8182°N 3.0509°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD 3091 3628 |
| Location | Blackpool, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Consecrated | 25 June 1878 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | Garlick, Park and Sykes |
| Style | Early English |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone with slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Blackpool |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St John's Blackpool is an Anglican church in Blackpool, England. It is also known as the parish church of Blackpool Saint John the Evangelist. A parish church is the main church for a local area. This church was finished in 1878 and is a special building known as a Grade II listed building.
The church was designed by Garlick, Park and Sykes. It was built in the Early English style. Over the years, it has been repaired and updated, especially in 1986 and from 2000 to 2006. St John's is an active church in the Church of England today.
A Look Back at St John's Church
For a long time, Blackpool did not have its own main church. People had to go to All Hallows Church in nearby Bispham for important events like baptisms and weddings.
In 1821, the first church was built on the spot where St John's stands now. It was named after John the Evangelist. A bishop officially opened it on July 6, 1821. The church was made bigger in 1832 and again in 1847. A special area called a chancel was added in 1851. By 1860, St John's became the official parish church for Blackpool.
In 1871, a guide book described the church as a "plain brick edifice." This means it was a simple brick building. It had a low tower but was not considered very beautiful. In 1873, people stopped being buried in the churchyard. A new cemetery, Layton Cemetery, was opened about 1.5 miles away.
Building a Bigger Church
Blackpool was growing, and the church needed to be much larger. So, the old church from 1821 was taken down in 1877. Building of the new, bigger church started right away.
Blackpool's first mayor, Dr William Cocker, helped a lot. He gave £1000 towards the cost and laid the first stone. The new church was finished in 1878. It was officially opened by the Bishop of Manchester on June 25, 1878.
What the Church Looks Like
The church was designed by Garlick, Park and Sykes. It is built from yellow stone and has slate roofs. Inside, the walls are made of smooth stone called ashlar.
The tower is on the south-west side of the building. It has four levels and strong supports called buttresses. These supports have pointed tops called pinnacles and small decorations called finials. Each side of the tower has two tall openings for the bells.
Inside, the church has a main open area called a nave. It has lower side areas called aisles. There are also tall transepts, which are like arms extending from the main part. At the end is a rounded area called an apsidal chancel. The nave has round columns with circular tops. The chancel has a decorative screen and wooden panels in the Gothic style.
Keeping the Church Special
On October 20, 1983, St John's was named a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important building with special history or architecture. Grade II is the lowest of three grades, but it still means the building is nationally important.
After 100 years, the church needed repairs. Work was done in 1986 to restore it. More big renovations happened between 2000 and 2006. This cost £1.6 million. During this time, a community and conference center was built. A special area was also made for Streetlife, a charity that helps homeless people. The inside of the church now has a modern, comfortable space for worship. It also has several other rooms for different activities.
St John's Church Today
Blackpool Church – St John's became a special "HTB resource church" on April 17, 2022. This means it helps other churches grow and share their faith.
What Happens at Church?
Every Sunday, there is a gathering that starts at 11 am. The doors open at 10:30 am, and you can get hot drinks and pastries. The Sunday gathering includes singing, prayer, and a talk from the Bible. There are also special groups for children and young people.
There is a Communion service every Wednesday at 11 am. This service is held at Beacon Church, which works with Blackpool Church. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The church also offers an Alpha course three times a year. This course is a chance to ask questions about faith in a friendly and open space.
For younger children, there is a weekly toddler group. It is for kids aged 0–4 and happens on Wednesdays at 10 am. Children can enjoy stories, crafts, and singing. Parents and carers can also get refreshments.
See also
- Listed buildings in Blackpool
