St John's Blackheath Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St John's Blackheath
St John the Evangelist's Church
The church from the southeast
51°28′33″N 0°01′07″E / 51.4758°N 0.0187°E / 51.4758; 0.0187
OS grid reference	TQ 40294 77135
Location	Stratheden Road, Blackheath, London SE3 7TH
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Evangelical
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	8 June 1973
Architect(s)	Arthur Ashpitel
Style	Perpendicular Gothic Revival
Completed	1853
Administration
Parish	Blackheath, St John the Evangelist
Deanery	Charlton
Archdeaconry	Lewisham and Greenwich
Diocese	Southwark

St John's Blackheath, also known as St John the Evangelist's Church, is an Anglican church in the Vanbrugh Park area of Blackheath, London. It is part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in southeast London, England. The church was built in the 1850s and designed by architect Arthur Ashpitel. It quickly became an important building in the growing residential area. St John's Blackheath has an Evangelical Christian focus and offers services and groups for children and young people.

History of St John's Church
What St John's Church Looks Like
- Outside the Church
- Inside the Church
Church Services and Community
Gallery
See also

History of St John's Church

Building the Church

The area now called Vanbrugh Park, located east of Greenwich Park, began to develop in the early Victorian era (a period in British history from 1837 to 1901). A new church was needed for this growing community. Arthur Ashpitel, an architect from Hackney, was chosen to design it. At that time, the area was part of Kent county. St John's was his only new church built in Kent. Construction started in 1852 and was finished in 1853.

Changes Over Time

During World War II, some of the beautiful stained glass windows in the north side of the church were damaged. They were later replaced. In 1999, the inside of the church was changed. New areas like offices and a kitchen were added at the west end.

Special Recognition

St John's Church was given a special status on June 8, 1973. It was listed as a Grade II building. This means it is considered "nationally important" and has "special interest" in England. The war memorial outside the church, which was designed by J.B.L. Tolhurst and revealed on November 11, 1922, also received a Grade II listing on May 19, 2016.

What St John's Church Looks Like

Outside the Church

St John the Evangelist's Church is a well-known building in its area. It stands on an island surrounded by roads and houses, making it easy to see, especially from the west. The church is built from Kentish Ragstone, a type of stone found locally, and has a roof made of Welsh slate.

The church has a main hall called a nave, with smaller sections called aisles on both sides. It also has a chancel (the area around the altar) with its own aisles and a lower roof. Next to the chancel are a vestry (a room for clergy) and a room for the organ. There are also porches on two sides. At the west end, there is a tall tower with a "good" spire on top. The bottom part of the spire is hidden by a parapet (a low wall). The tower has strong buttresses at each corner, windows with fancy designs called tracery, clock faces, and a small stair turret.

The church's style is mostly Gothic Revival, specifically the Perpendicular style. This style was not very common in the 1850s. However, the architect, Arthur Ashpitel, was connected to the Evangelical movement, which liked the Perpendicular style. There are also some elements of the Decorated Gothic style.

Inside the Church

Most of the church's interior decorations and furniture were added in the late 1800s. These include a rood screen (a screen separating the nave from the chancel) and a reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar), both made by H.S. Rogers. A gallery at the west end, which was put in by D. Drury in 1898, was removed during the changes made in 1999. Many of the beautiful stained-glass windows were designed by the company Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

Church Services and Community

St John's Blackheath holds two services every Sunday: one at 10:15 AM and another at 6:00 PM. On the second Sunday of each month, there is also an early morning service at 8:00 AM. This service uses the Book of Common Prayer.

The Church Pastoral Aid Society helps choose the vicar for St John the Evangelist's Church. In 2001, the local area around the church had about 4,962 people. The church is part of the Deanery of Charlton and the Archdeaconry of Lewisham. It belongs to the Anglican Diocese of Southwark.