St John's Church, Portland facts for kids
St. John's Church, also known as St John the Baptist Church, is a special church located in Fortuneswell on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is part of the Church of England, which is a Christian church. The church was built a long time ago, between 1838 and 1840.
Because of its history and design, St. John's Church is a "Grade II Listed" building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. Its churchyard walls, gates, railings, and even some old gravestones nearby are also listed as important historical features.
The church was designed by either Edward Mondey or Charles Wallis. It was built using local Portland stone and has a beautiful old style called Gothic, which looks like churches from the Middle Ages. Some people also describe its style as Norman. Today, St. John's Church is still an active church and is part of the Portland Parish, along with All Saints Church and the Avalanche Memorial Church.
A Look at History
For many years, St George's Church was the only main church on the Isle of Portland. But by the 1830s, more and more people were living in the Underhill area. St George's Church became too small for everyone. So, people decided to build a new church in Underhill to help serve the growing community.
Building work for St. John's Church started in 1838 and finished in 1840. A builder named John Hancock from Weymouth did the work. In 1865, Underhill became its own parish, and St. John's Church became its main church.
Changes and Updates
In 1876, the church got some updates and was made bigger. A new part called a chancel and a room for the organ were added by an architect named George Crickmay. Later, in 1901, a new room for church activities was built nearby.
After the Second World War ended, on VJ Day, a group of American soldiers from the 14th Port Regiment gave their special flag, the Stars and Stripes, to St. John's Church. This was a gift to remember the strong friendship between the soldiers and the people of Portland.
The Church Organ
In 1968, a large organ, made by a famous company called Father Willis, was brought to St. John's Church from a school in London. It cost £2,000 to buy and was installed after the church balcony was made stronger to hold its weight. Over time, the organ was not used much and needed very expensive repairs, costing around £100,000. Because of this, the church decided to sell it in 2013. The organ found a new home at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Loretu in Għajnsielem, Gozo.
