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 special building in the village of St John's, near Woking, England. The village itself is named after this church! It's part of the Church of England, belonging to the Diocese of Guildford and the wider Province of Canterbury.
Contents
The Church's Story
How St John's Church Began
In the early 1800s, a community started growing in the area now known as St John's. Many people worked in brick-making and plant nurseries. You can still see a reminder of the brick-making past with 'Kiln Bridge' over the Basingstoke Canal. The canal helped the community grow even more.
It was a long trip to the nearest church, St Peter's in Old Woking. So, the vicar of St Peter's, Reverend Charles Bowles, raised £1,500. This money was used to build a church closer to the new community.
Building the Church
Reverend Bowles asked Sir George Gilbert Scott to design the new church. Scott was a famous Victorian architect who also designed St Pancras railway station in London. A drawing of his plans for St John's Church is still kept there today.
The church was built in a Gothic Revival style. This means it looked like churches from the 1200s. It was made with stone, just like those old churches. On June 24, 1842, the church was officially opened by the Bishop of Winchester.
St John's Church Today
Today, St John's Church follows a conservative evangelical tradition within the Church of England. This means they focus strongly on the Bible's teachings. The church leaders have also supported the GAFCON movement's Jerusalem Declaration.
Changes Over Time
Making the Church Bigger
St John's Church has changed a lot since it was first built. The original church was quite simple and didn't have side sections (called aisles). But between 1879 and 1883, aisles and other rooms (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 taken out because it wasn't being used. The church's first organ was built by Henry Bryceson. Later, in 1915, beautiful wooden carvings and panels were added. A special room for the choir was built in the 1930s. The organ was rebuilt in 1948. In 2002, the church was updated with a new baptism pool, wooden font, communion table, and lectern.
Other Buildings Around the Church
The church hall was built in 1956. It was later updated in 1992 to become a Youth Centre. In the 1970s, more parts were added to the church, like a lounge, entrance area, and offices. In 2002, the church also got better lighting and heating. The floors and seats were replaced, and the welcome area was made larger.
The Bowles family, who helped start the church, also helped build a local school. This school was used for Sunday school and youth groups until the 1970s. It was also used as a local Scout hut.
Special Features of the Church
Beautiful Windows
The church has many interesting features. One of the most beautiful is the stained glass window made in Munich. It remembers Reverend Charles Bowles. This window shows Jesus blessing children and bringing a boy back to life.
Another window at the main entrance, added in 1979, shows stories from the Bible, like Psalm 1 and Revelation 1. This window has images of the Holy Spirit and wind blowing through it. There are also many other stained glass windows and memorials throughout the church.
Other Interesting Items
The communion rail has the name of David Sheppard carved into it. He was a famous cricketer and later a Bishop. In 1899, a carved oak pulpit was given to the church. The old pulpit was given to Holy Trinity Church in Knaphill.
The kneelers in the church were handmade by people from the local community. They show many different pictures, including local scenes, spiritual images, and even 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 same women also helped make some of the tiles in 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 in the Battle of Isandlwana and 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 weeping beech tree and two burial vaults for the Bowles family. John Dixon Butler, the architect for the Metropolitan Police, is also buried here.
In 1913, a new graveyard was opened. It contains the war memorial, which has a Latin saying: '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. A Wall of Remembrance was added in 1996 to remember those placed in the garden.
