St John's Church, Ranmoor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Ranmoor |
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| OS grid reference | SK 31952 86280 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. John the Evangelist |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Hallam |
| Diocese | Sheffield |
| Province | York |
St John's Church, Ranmoor, is a large church in Ranmoor. This is a part of the City of Sheffield in England. It belongs to the Church of England and is part of the Diocese of Sheffield. This church is actually the second one built on this spot. The first church was destroyed by a fire in 1887.
The church has a very tall tower and spire. It stands about 58 meters (190 feet) high. This makes it the second tallest church spire in Sheffield. Only the Cathedral Church of St Marie is a little bit taller, by just 1.5 meters (5 feet).
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History of St John's Church
The first church building on this site was designed by E. M. Gibbs. It opened its doors on April 24, 1879. Sadly, a big fire almost completely destroyed the building on January 2, 1887. The only part that survived was the tall tower and spire.
A new church was then built. It was designed by the same architect, Edward Mitchel Gibbs, whose company was called Flockton & Gibbs. This new church used the old tower and spire that had survived the fire. The church reopened on September 9, 1888. Today, it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
War Memorial at the Church
In the churchyard, there is a War Memorial. It is a tall Runic Cross, about 4.9 meters (16 feet) high. It is made from a special type of granite from Cornwall. The cross has carved pictures on its front and back. These designs were created by Mr. A.F. Watson from Sheffield.
The Church Organ
The church has a very special organ. It was put in place in 1888 by a company from Sheffield called Brindley and Foster. This organ is quite large and has three keyboards, called manuals. Many people think it is one of the best pipe organs in the area.
In 2017, part of the church ceiling fell down. This caused some damage to the organ. So, in 2020, the organ had a big repair job. You can find all the details about this amazing pipe organ at the National Pipe Organ Register.
Famous People Connected to St John's
A well-known actor, Michael Palin, has a special connection to St John's. He is famous for being part of the comedy group Monty Python. Michael Palin once said that St John's was one of his favorite churches. He was baptised there as a baby. He also went to the church regularly when he was a child. He remembers his father being both a chorister (someone who sings in the choir) and a bellringer at the church.
