St John's Church, Kidderminster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Kidderminster |
|
|---|---|
The Church of St John the Baptist, Kidderminster
|
|
| Location | Kidderminster |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | George Alexander |
| Groundbreaking | 1842 |
| Completed | 1843 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kidderminster West Team Ministry |
| Deanery | Kidderminster Deanery |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Dudley |
| Diocese | Diocese of Worcester |
St John's Church in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, is a special place of worship. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St John's Church
Building the First Church
The very first St John the Baptist Church was built a long time ago, between 1842 and 1843. An architect named George Alexander designed it. People in the area sometimes called it the 'Black Church'. In 1867, it became its own parish, separating from St Mary and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster.
Rebuilding and Changes
The church you see today was mostly rebuilt between 1892 and 1904. The architect J. A. Chatwin worked on it, but he kept the tower and spire from the older church. The new church was officially opened by the Bishop of Worcester, Charles Gore, on February 13, 1904.
Later, in 1972, some changes were made inside the church. Offices and rooms for the clergy (church leaders) were built in the main part of the church, called the nave. A dining area (refectory) and a children's room were also added. The church organ was moved to a new spot above the dining area.
Church Leaders (Vicars)
Many vicars have served at St John's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- Revd Melsup Hill (1844 - 1857)
- Revd George Kewley (1858 - 1882)
- Canon John Kershaw (1882 - 1911)
- Revd R. Stephenson (1911 - 1920)
- Revd R. Bertie Roberts (1920 - 1936)
- Revd J.H. Balmforth (1937 - 1943)
- Canon Hugh Roberts (1943 - 1952)
- Revd Arthur Trippass (1952 - 1960)
- Revd Anthony Balmforth (1960 - 1966)
- Revd Alan Doyle (1966 - 1967)
- Revd Derek Barratt (1967 - 1978)
- Revd M H Stagg (1978 - 1980)
- Revd F. Hillebrand (1980 - 1991)
- Revd Charles Raven (1990 - 2000)
- Revd G. Smith (1991 - 2000)
- Revd H Goddard (2000 - 2009)
- Revd D. Arnold (2009 - 2014)
- Fr Tim Williams (2015 - 2025)
The church is currently looking for a new vicar.
The Church Organ
The organ at St John's Church was built in 1909 by a company called Nicholson and Co. from Worcester. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Organists Who Played Here
Many talented organists have played music at St John's Church:
- William Taylor (until 1868)
- George Arthur Hardacre (1868 - 1869)
- G.E. Blunden (1869 - 1877)
- William Edward Wadely (1877 - 1943)
- Gerry Thacker
- Roy Seville (until 2003)
- Christopher Strickland (2004 - 2016)
- Ian Thompson (2016 - present)
The Church Clock
In 1856, St Mary's Church was getting a brand new clock. They decided to give their old clock to St John's Church. This old clock was built in 1828 by Henry Knight of Birmingham. It was installed at St John's in October 1856 with new clock faces. People in the area helped pay for it, and it was very helpful for everyone living nearby.
