St John's Church, Little Gidding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John |
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The Church of Saint John the Evangelist, erected in 1714 to replace an earlier church at the site
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 St John
Location in Cambridgeshire
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| 52°25′16″N 0°20′39″W / 52.4211°N 0.3441°W | |
| Location | Little Gidding |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I Listed |
| Designated | 28 January 1958 |
| Completed | 1714 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 30 |
| Length | 32.75 feet (9.98 m) |
| Nave width | 13.66 feet (4.16 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Great with Little Steeple Gidding |
| Deanery | Huntingdon Deanery |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and Wisbech |
| Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St John's Church is a historic church located in the small village of Little Gidding in Cambridgeshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is dedicated to St John the Evangelist. This church is very important, so it's listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered a building of exceptional interest and is protected. The church is built from brick, covered with a special type of stone called Ketton stone, and has a roof made of Collyweston stone slate.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The very first church building on this spot was from the Middle Ages. It was linked to the Knights Templar, a famous group of medieval knights. By the 1600s, this old church was falling apart.
The Ferrar Family's Influence
In the 17th century, a family led by Nicholas Ferrar moved to Little Gidding and started a religious community there. They worked hard to restore the old church. Mary Ferrar, a member of the family, added beautiful oak wood panels to the church walls. Some of these old panels can still be seen today on the south side of the church's chancel (the area around the altar). The Ferrars also put in an organ in 1631-32, though it's no longer there. Mary Ferrar also gave the church a brass font from around 1625 and a brass lectern (a stand for reading) with an eagle design, which is from the 15th century. The wooden communion table used today also dates back to when the Ferrar family lived there.
The Church We See Today
The current church building was built in 1714. It replaced the older one that the Ferrar family had restored. The new church's main area, called the nave, was built 8 feet shorter than the old one. It also removed a special gallery that the Ferrars had added. Later, in 1853, the church was restored and changed again.
Church Features
Size and Space
The nave of St John's Church is about 13.66 feet (4.16 m) wide and 32.75 feet (9.98 m) long. It's a small church, with space for fewer than 30 people in the seats along the walls. The chancel, where the altar is, is about 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and 22.75 feet (6.93 m) long. On the south side of the chancel, there's a vestry, which is a room used by the clergy, added in the late 1800s.
Organs and Music
Old photos from the early 1900s show that the church once had an organ. However, a survey done in 1999 found that there was no pipe organ in the church at that time.
Church Administration
In 1923, a special rule was made that combined the churches of Great Gidding, Little Gidding, and Steeple Gidding into one larger group, or "benefice."
St John's Church is considered one of the best churches in England. It is even mentioned in a famous book called England's Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins.
Images for kids
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The Church of Saint John the Evangelist, built in 1714.
