St John's Church, Ranmoor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Ranmoor |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 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 in Ranmoor is a big church located in Ranmoor, a part of Sheffield, 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 sadly destroyed by a fire in 1887.
The church has a very tall tower and spire, which is like a pointy roof. It stands about 190-foot-tall (58 m). This makes it the second tallest church spire in Sheffield! Only the Cathedral Church of St Marie is a tiny bit taller, by just 5 feet.
Contents
A Look at History
The First Church and the Fire
The very first church building here was designed by an architect named E. M. Gibbs. It opened its doors on April 24, 1879. However, on January 2, 1887, a big fire almost completely destroyed the building. The only part that survived was the tall tower and its spire.
Building the New Church
After the fire, a new church was built. It was designed by the same architect, Edward Mitchel Gibbs, whose company was called Flockton & Gibbs. They used the old tower and spire that had survived the fire. The new church officially reopened on September 9, 1888. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building.
Special Memorials
In the churchyard, there is a War Memorial. It's a tall cross, about 16 feet high, made from strong Cornish granite. It has special carvings on the front and back, designed by Mr. A.F. Watson from Sheffield. This memorial helps us remember people who served in wars.
The Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ that was put in place in 1888. It was built by a company from Sheffield called Brindley and Foster. This organ has three keyboards, called manuals, and is known as one of the best pipe organs in the area.
In 2020, the organ was carefully repaired. This was needed because part of the church ceiling had fallen in October 2017, causing some damage to the organ. You can find all the details about this amazing instrument at the National Pipe Organ Register.
Famous Connections
Did you know that a famous actor, Michael Palin, who was part of the comedy group Monty Python, has a special connection to St John's? He once said it was one of his favorite churches. This is because he was baptized there as a baby and went to the church regularly when he was a child. He has happy memories of his dad being a chorister (someone who sings in the choir) and a bellringer at the church.
