St John's Church, Kidderminster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Kidderminster |
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The Church of St John the Baptist, Kidderminster
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| Location | Kidderminster |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | George Alexander |
| Groundbreaking | 1842 |
| Completed | 1843 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kidderminster West Team Ministry |
| Deanery | Kidderminster Deanery |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Dudley |
| Diocese | Diocese of Worcester |
St John's Church, Kidderminster is a special church in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is so important that it is listed as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and design.
Contents
History of St John's Church
The very first St John the Baptist Church was built between 1842 and 1843. It was designed by an architect named George Alexander. People in the area used to call this first church the 'Black Church'. In 1867, it became its own church area, known as a parish. Before that, it was part of the St Mary and All Saints' Church parish.
The church you see today was mostly rebuilt between 1892 and 1904 by J. A. Chatwin. They kept the tower and spire from the older church. The new church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Worcester, Charles Gore, on February 13, 1904.
Later, in 1972, some new parts were added inside the church. Offices and rooms for the church staff were built in the main part of the church, called the nave. A dining area (refectory) and a room for children were also added. At this time, the church organ was moved to a new spot above the dining area.
Vicars of St John's Church
Many different vicars have led St John's Church over the years. A vicar is a priest who is in charge of a church parish. Here is a list of some of the people who have served as vicars:
- Revd Melsup Hill 1844 - 1857
- Revd George Kewley 1858 - 1882
- Canon John Kershaw 1882 - 1911
- Revd R. Stephenson 1911 - 1920
- Revd R. Bertie Roberts 1920 - 1936
- Revd J.H. Balmforth 1937 - 1943
- Canon Hugh Roberts 1943 - 1952
- Revd Arthur Trippass 1952 - 1960
- Revd Anthony Balmforth 1960 - 1966
- Revd Alan Doyle 1966 - 1967
- Revd Derek Barratt 1967 - 1978
- Revd M H Stagg 1978 - 1980
- Revd F. Hillebrand 1980 - 1991 (team rector from 1990)
- Revd Charles Raven 1990-2000
- Revd G. Smith 1991 - 2000
- Revd H Goddard 2000 - 2009
- Revd D. Arnold 2009 - 2014
- Fr Tim Williams 2015-present
The Church Organ
The organ at St John's Church was built in 1909 by a company called Nicholson and Co. from Worcester. You can find more detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register if you are interested in how it works.
Organists of St John's Church
An organist is a person who plays the organ, especially during church services. Here are some of the organists who have played at St John's Church:
- William Taylor until 1868 (he later became the organist at St Mary and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster)
- George Arthur Hardacre 1868 - 1869
- G.E. Blunden 1869 - 1877
- William Edward Wadely 1877 - 1943 (he used to be the organist at Tamworth Parish Church)
The Church Clock
In 1856, St Mary's Church was getting a brand new clock. Because of this, they gave their old clock to St John's Church. This old clock was built in 1828 by Henry Knight of Birmingham. It was put into St John's Church in October 1856. New clock faces were added, paid for by donations from people. This clock was very helpful for everyone living in the area.
