St John's Church, Bridgetown facts for kids
St John's Church, Bridgetown is a historic church in Bridgetown, Devon, England. It belongs to the Church of England. The church was built in 1832 by Edward St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset. He built it for the people who lived and worked on his land.
History of St John's Church
When the church was first built, Edward St Maur talked with Henry Philpotts, who was the Bishop of Exeter at the time. They discussed how the church would be officially recognized. After some meetings and letters, they decided that St John's Church would be a "chapel of ease". This means it was a smaller church that helped people attend services more easily, as it was connected to the main church, St Mary's Church, Berry Pomeroy.
From 1843 to 1869, St John's Church was part of a different church group called the Free Church of England.
Fire and Rebuilding
Sadly, on July 9, 1976, a fire badly damaged the church. It was almost completely destroyed inside. But the community worked hard to rebuild it. The church was finished and officially opened again in 1980. Eric Mercer, who was the Bishop of Exeter then, led the special ceremony to open it again.
Today, St John's Church is recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
