St John's Church, Woking facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's |
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| St John the Baptist Church | |
St John's Church, Woking
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| 51°18′38″N 0°35′35″W / 51.31044°N 0.59292°W | |
| Location | St John's, Woking |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative evangelical |
| Website | St John's Website |
| History | |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Founder(s) | Revd Charles Bowles |
| Consecrated | 24 June 1842 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Sir George Gilbert Scott |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1840 |
| Completed | 1842 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John's |
| Diocese | Guildford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St John's Church is a historic church found in St John's, a village in Woking, England. The village itself is named after this church. It is part of the Church of England and belongs to the Diocese of Guildford.
Contents
History of St John's Church
In the early 1800s, a community started growing in the area now known as St John's. This place was busy with brick-making and plant nurseries. You can still see a reminder of the brick industry today with 'Kiln Bridge' over the Basingstoke Canal. The canal also helped the community grow.
People found it hard to travel to the nearest church, St Peter's in Old Woking. So, the vicar of St Peter's, Rev'd Charles Bowles, raised £1,500. He wanted to build a church closer to the new community.
Sir George Gilbert Scott, a famous Victorian architect, designed the church. He is known for designing buildings like St Pancras railway station. A drawing of his plans for St John's Church is still kept there. The church was officially opened on June 24, 1842, by the Bishop of Winchester. It was built in a Gothic Revival style, which looks like churches from the 1200s.
St John's Church Today
St John's Church is an active church in the Church of England. It serves the local community and continues to be a place of worship.
Changes and Additions to the Church
St John's Church has grown a lot since it was first built. The original church was quite simple and did not have side sections (aisles).
Expanding the Church Building
Between 1879 and 1883, new aisles and rooms for the clergy (vestries) were added. This made the church twice as big! In 1884, the church and its surrounding area became its own official parish.
In 1904, a wooden balcony was removed because it was not used much. The church's first organ was built by Henry Bryceson. Later, in 1915, beautiful altar decorations (reredos), the Holy Table, and oak panels were added. A choir vestry was built in the 1930s. The organ was rebuilt in 1948. In 2002, the church was updated with a baptism pool, an oak font, a communion table, and a lectern.
The church hall was built in 1956. It was later turned into a Youth Centre in 1992. In the 1970s, more parts were added, including a lounge, entrance area (narthex), and offices. In 2002, the lighting and heating were improved. The flooring and seating were also replaced. The church's welcome area was made larger, so the porch had to be rebuilt.
Buildings Around the Church
Other buildings were also built because the church was there. For example, a house for the vicar (vicarage) was built nearby. Rev'd Charles Bowles built it for the vicars of St Peter's. That building is still there, but a newer vicarage was built in 1952.
The Bowles family also helped the community by building a local school. This school was used until the 1970s for Sunday school and youth groups. It was also used as a meeting place for the local Scout group.
Interesting Features of the Church
The church has many special features to look out for.
Stained Glass Windows
One notable feature is the stained glass window made in Munich. It remembers Rev'd Charles Bowles. The window shows the Crucifixion of Jesus. It also shows Jesus blessing children and bringing a boy back to life (the son of the widow of Nain).
Another window at the main entrance was installed in 1979. It tells stories from Psalm 1 and Revelation 1 from the Bible. This window shows the Holy Spirit with wind blowing through it. There are also other memorials and stained glass windows throughout the church.
Other Special Items
The communion rail has the name of David Sheppard engraved on it. He was a famous cricketer and later a Bishop. A carved oak pulpit was given to the church in 1899. It replaced the old one, which went to Holy Trinity Church in Knaphill. The kneelers (cushions for kneeling) in the church were handmade by local people. They show many different pictures, including local scenes, spiritual images, and the Seven Days of Creation.
An interesting fact is that the mosaic tiles on the floor were made by women who were in the former Woking Prison. These women also helped make some tiles for St Paul's Cathedral in London!
The Church Graveyard
The oldest readable gravestone in the churchyard belongs to the Waterer family. They were involved in the local plant nursery business. The graveyard was made larger in 1885.
Many interesting gravestones can be found here. One belongs to Lt. Edgar Oliphant Anstey. He was killed during a battle in South Africa called the Battle of Isandlwana. He is thought to be the first person from South Australia to die in a battle overseas. There is also a gravestone with the unusual name 'David Goliath'. The graveyard also has a beautiful weeping beech tree. There are two burial vaults for the Bowles family. John Dixon Butler, an architect for the Metropolitan Police, is also buried here.
In 1913, a new graveyard was opened. It contains the war memorial with a Latin motto: 'dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'. This means 'it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country'. Both graveyards are now closed for new burials. However, ashes can still be placed in the Garden of Remembrance. In 1996, a Wall of Remembrance was added to remember those whose ashes are in the garden.
