St John's Church, Darlington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, Darlington |
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St John the Evangelist's Church, Darlington
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 St John the Evangelist's Church, Darlington
Location in County Durham
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| 54°31′22″N 1°32′35″W / 54.52278°N 1.54306°W | |
| Location | Darlington |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Closed |
| Dedication | Saint John the Evangelist |
| Consecrated | 16 July 1853 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | John Middleton |
| Groundbreaking | 10 September 1847 |
| Completed | 3 January 1850 |
| Closed | 5 February 2023 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 106 feet (32 m) |
| Width | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Spire height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Saint John Darlington |
| Deanery | Darlington |
| Archdeaconry | Auckland |
| Diocese | Diocese of Durham |
St John the Evangelist's Church in Darlington, County Durham, is a special old building. It used to be a Church of England church. It is located on Neasham Road. This church is so important that it has a special status called Grade II listed. This means it is protected for its history and architecture.
History of the Church Building
This church was designed by an architect named John Middleton. It was built a long time ago, between 1847 and 1849. The very first stone was laid on September 10, 1847. A man named George Hudson, who was a Member of Parliament, helped with this important start.
The original plan for the church was very grand. It was supposed to have a tall spire, about 160 feet (49 m) high. This spire would sit on top of a 90 feet (27 m) tower. However, this tall spire was never actually built.
The church first opened its doors for people to worship on January 3, 1850. It took a few years to pay for everything. But by 1853, the Bishop of Durham agreed to officially dedicate the church. This special ceremony happened on July 16, 1853. Later, in 1900, some extra rooms called vestries were added. These were designed by W.S. Hicks.
In December 2022, a sad announcement was made. The church had to close because fewer people were attending services. Also, it was becoming too expensive to keep the building running. The very last service was held on February 5, 2023.
The Church Organ
When the church first opened, music for services was played on a type of instrument called a Seraphine. In 1857, a pipe organ was given to the church by Nathaniel Plews. This organ was not new; it had been used before at Bedale church.
However, this second-hand organ did not work very well. So, in 1865, a new organ was put in. It was built by Mr. Nicholson from Newcastle upon Tyne. This new organ even used some parts from the older one. It cost £150 at the time.
This organ was replaced again in 1890. A new, bigger organ with two keyboards was built by H.S. Vincent and Company from Sunderland. A famous organ player named Philip Armes played the first concert on this new organ. He was the organist at Durham Cathedral. You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. It is considered a very important organ and has a special Grade II* listing from the British Institute of Organ Studies.
Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. Five of these bells were put in place in 1848. They were made by Charles and George Mears. Later, in 1893, three more bells were added. These new bells were made by a company called Mears and Stainbank.
