St John's Wood Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John's Wood Church
Location	Lord's Roundabout, London NW8 7NE
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	http://www.stjohnswoodchurch.org.uk/
History
Founded	1814
Dedicated	24 May 1814
Architecture
Architect(s)	Thomas Hardwick
Style	Neo-classical
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of London

St John's Wood Church is a special Church of England church found in St John's Wood, London. It is located right on Lord's Roundabout, which is a busy road junction. You can find it between the famous Lord's Cricket Ground and the beautiful Regent's Park. This church is also a "Grade II* listed building," which means it's a very important historic building in the United Kingdom and is protected.

A Look Back: The Church's History

How the Church Began

St John's Wood Church was built in 1814. It was first known as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to help people who lived far from the main St Marylebone Parish Church. The same architect, Thomas Hardwick, designed both churches.

The Church Grounds and Burials

When it was first built, the church had a very large area for burials. Many people were buried there. However, in 1855, these burial grounds were closed. Later, in 1886, they were turned into a public garden called St. John's Wood Church Grounds. It is believed that about 50,000 people are buried there. This includes famous people like the artist John Sell Cotman and a woman known as the prophetess Joanna Southcott.

Becoming a Parish Church

Over time, the church's role changed. In 1898, it became a chapel for Christ Church, Marylebone. It also became more important for managing the local church area.

During the Second World War, some churches were damaged by bombs. St Stephen's, Avenue Road, was one of them and could no longer be used. Because of this, St John's Wood Church became a full "parish church" in 1952. This meant it was the main church for the local community.

Famous Events at the Church

St John's Wood Church has hosted many important events. In June 1953, Peggy Cripps and Joe Appiah had their wedding there. In 1969, Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney had a special blessing for their marriage at the church. More recently, in 2007, the funeral of Ursula Vaughan Williams was held there.

Building Improvements

In the 1970s, a new Church Hall complex was built next to the church. To celebrate its completion, a statue of John the Baptist was put up. He is the church's patron saint. The statue was made by Hans Feibusch.

Later, in 1991, the inside of the church was renovated. This work was led by Michael Reardon. During this time, the floor in the chancel (the area near the altar) was replaced with limestone. A new central altar was also put in place of the older high altar.

St John's Wood Church Today

Worship and Music

Today, the church has a regular group of about 130 to 150 people who attend services. The church aims to offer "thoughtful and intelligent preaching and teaching." Music is also a very important part of the church's tradition. A group of professional singers leads the main Sunday service. There is also an amateur Chamber Choir, made up of church members, who sing once a month. The church has a large organ with 52 different sounds. The church building is open every day from morning to late afternoon for people to pray or find a quiet space.

Community Connections

St John's Wood Church works closely with other local churches. Together, they hold a monthly service that includes writing letters for Amnesty International. This helps people around the world. The church's leaders also meet with people from the nearby Liberal Jewish Synagogue and London Central Mosque. They have discussions about different religious texts.

Activities at the Church Hall

During school terms, the Church Hall complex is used by St John's Wood Pre-Preparatory School during the day. In the evenings, a local youth club meets in the church's crypt (an underground room) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The hall is also sometimes rented out for meetings by local residents' groups. Charities like ARC UK also use the hall for their events.

Images for kids

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  St John's Wood Church