St John Clerkenwell facts for kids
St John Clerkenwell is a historic building in Clerkenwell, London. It used to be a local church, but now its original site, including an old underground room called a crypt, is home to the London chapel of the modern Order of St John. This building is a light-brick structure that looks like the small church of Clerkenwell Priory that once stood there. It doesn't have a tall spire or tower. For many years, the building was not well-maintained because the medieval Order of St John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, had been disbanded.
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Exploring the St John Clerkenwell Site
Buildings of the Order of St John
The current buildings on the site include a chapel, with an old crypt underneath it. There is also a peaceful garden called the Garden of Remembrance and a narrow entrance building built in the Georgian style. These parts are owned by the Order of Saint John (chartered 1888). This organization helps raise money and supports St John Ambulance, which is famous for its first aid services.
St John's Gardens: A Public Park
A short distance to the south-west, you'll find a small public park called St John's Gardens. This park is located where a larger version of the church used to stand during the Victorian era. It's now a nice green space for people to enjoy.
A Look Back at St John Clerkenwell's History
The Queen Anne Church Era
In the early 1700s, the church building was falling apart. A group in London called the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches bought it and helped save it. This commission was set up to build new churches and restore old ones in London.
Victorian Changes and Improvements
Later, in 1845, the church was carefully restored and made better by an architect named William Pettit Griffith. By 1878, some parts of the old church still remained. This included a large painted window at the east end and parts of the walls from Prior Thomas Docwra's church. Even some of the old stone carvings (capitals) and rib designs from the former church were found beneath the pews.
When the Church Changed Purpose
By 1931, fewer people were attending St John's, so it stopped being a regular parish church. Its parish was combined with that of St James, Clerkenwell. The original site was then given to the worldwide Order of Saint John (chartered 1888). It became their main chapel in England, which it still is today.
During World War II, in 1941, both this historic site and the larger Victorian church nearby were badly damaged by bombing.
Rebuilding the Old Chapel
After the war, the chapel for the Order was rebuilt. This work took place from 1951 to 1958, led by architects John Seely and Paul Paget. The crypt, which is the underground part of the medieval building, is still part of the structure today.
The shape of the original round church, which was officially opened in 1185, is marked out on St John's Square in front of the church. To the south of the church, the Garden of Remembrance now stands where a chapel from the 1500s used to be.
Images for kids
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A view of the narrow west front building; the square chapel is behind the left side, and a garden of remembrance is behind the right side.
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A view of the main façade (front part) of the old St John, Clerkenwell, from 1818.
