St John's Church, Wolverhampton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. John's Church, Wolverhampton
The Church of St. John in the Square, Wolverhampton
Location	Wolverhampton
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	St John's in the Square at Parish of Central Wolverhampton website. Wolverhampton S.John at a Church Near You.
History
Dedication	St John the Evangelist
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Groundbreaking	1758
Completed	1776
Administration
Parish	Central Wolverhampton
Deanery	Wolverhampton
Archdeaconry	Walsall
Diocese	Diocese of Lichfield

St. John's Church is an important Church of England parish church located in Wolverhampton, England. It is recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a very special historical place.

Why Was St. John's Church Built?

The church was constructed between 1758 and 1776. It was designed by either William Baker or Roger Eykyn. This church was needed because Wolverhampton's population was growing fast. This growth was due to the industrial revolution, when many people moved to towns for factory jobs.

At that time, the main church, St Peter's Collegiate Church, had a unique setup. It was a "Royal Peculiar," meaning it was independent from the local Diocese of Lichfield. Its leaders, called deans and a chapter, controlled a large area. They made a lot of money from things like burial fees and pew rents. These leaders often lived far away.

Dealing with a Growing Town

As Wolverhampton grew, new religious groups appeared. Methodism, a type of Protestantism, became popular. John Wesley, a famous Methodist leader, even visited Wolverhampton in 1761. There were also many Catholic families in the countryside nearby.

The leaders of the Church of England worried about these changes. They felt their influence was shrinking. So, they decided to build new churches. St. John's was one of these new churches. It was called a "chapel of ease," which meant it helped the main church serve the growing number of people.

After a big public effort, a special law was passed in 1755. This law allowed St. John's Church to be built. The beautiful new church, designed in a Neo-Classical style, quickly went up. It was built on a square at the edge of the town.

More Churches and Changes Over Time

Even with St. John's, Wolverhampton kept growing. So, two more churches were built nearby. One, St. Paul's, was taken down in 1960 for a new road. The other, St. George's, was turned into a Sainsbury's supermarket in the 1980s.

St. George's Church as part of a Sainsbury's supermarket. It now lies empty

At first, all these new churches depended on St. Peter's. But the people who helped fund them, called lay sponsors, had a lot of say. This was because the church leaders often relied on their donations for income and building upkeep.

Over time, the old system of the "Royal Peculiar" was seen as unfair. New laws were passed in the 1840s to change things. In 1848, the ancient College of St. Peter was officially ended. St. John's and the other chapels became independent parish churches. They were now part of the Diocese of Lichfield. This also meant their clergy received better pay.

St. John's remained its own parish church for a long time. However, by the end of the 20th century, due to population changes and money issues, it became part of the Central Wolverhampton Parish.

The Church Organ: A Musical Journey

The organ at St. John's Church is very old and has an interesting past. It was built in 1684 by Renatus Harris.

Where Did the Organ Come From?

This organ was likely made for a famous competition. This competition was called the "battle of the organs" at Temple Church in London. When it wasn't chosen there, it was sold to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Then, in 1762, it was sold again and brought to St. John's Church. Since then, it has been rebuilt and repaired many times. You can find more details about the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. [1]

Who Played the Organ?

Many talented musicians have played the organ at St. John's Church over the years. Here are some of them:

• William Rudge (until 1843)
• Mr. Day (from 1843)
• Mr. Allen (1856–1862)
• Roland Rogers (1863–1867) – He later became the organist at Bangor Cathedral.
• Dr. Charles Swinnerton Heap (from 1868)
• Herbert Walter Wareing (1876–1879)
• George Halford (1881-1886)
• John Barker (1968–1980)
• Hugh Smith (1980–present)

Images for kids

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  St. George's Church as part of a Sainsbury's supermarket. It now lies empty