St John's, Aberdeen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Aberdeen |
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The Church of St John the Evangelist
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| 57°08′36″N 2°06′04″W / 57.143324°N 2.101135°W | |
| Location | Crown Street, Aberdeen |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Website | https://www.stjohnsaberdeen.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Consecrated | 6 May 1851 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Matthew and Mackenzie |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 20 November 1849 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Granite with Burntisland stone dressings |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Aberdeen & Orkney |
St John's Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a special church called a Scottish Episcopal Church. It's also known as St John the Evangelist and is located off Crown Street. This church has a long and interesting history, serving its community for many years.
Contents
The Church's History
How St John's Church Began
The story of St John's Church started a long time ago, in 1693. A minister named Rev Dr George Garden was asked to leave his church, the Kirk of St Nicholas. This happened because he did not agree with the new way of organizing the church, which was called Presbyterianism.
After some time away, Dr. Garden came back to Aberdeen around 1720. He gathered together the people who still wanted to follow his teachings. For the next 130 years, this group of people met in different houses. They also met in a larger building in Golden Square, which they dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
Building the Current Church
The church you see today was built between 1849 and 1851. It was designed by architects Mackenzie and Matthews. The building was officially opened for worship on May 6, 1851. Since then, the church has been continuously used by its congregation.
Today, St John's Church is recognized as a special historical building. It is listed as a Category B building by Historic Environment Scotland. This means it is an important part of Scotland's heritage.
Sharing the Church Building
In 2013, St John's Church did something very welcoming. It became the first church in Scotland to invite Muslims to share its building. This happened because the nearby mosque was very small, and some people had to pray outside. This shows how the church helps its community and welcomes everyone.
The Ancient Font
A Special Stone for Baptisms
Inside St John's Church, there is a very old stone baptismal font. A font is a special bowl used for baptisms, which are ceremonies where people are welcomed into the Christian faith. This font came from a ruined church in Kinkell, near Inverurie.
The font is very old, from before the Scottish Reformation. It has eight sides, and each side has a carved panel. You can even see the initials of Canon Alexander Galloway on the west side. He was in charge of the Kinkell church from 1516 until 1552. The bowl of the font sits on a base that was designed by James Mitchell, an architect from Aberdeen, in 1851.
