St John the Baptist's Church, Burslem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist, Burslem |
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Viewed from the west
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| 53°2′33″N 2°11′47″W / 53.04250°N 2.19639°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 869 495 |
| Location | Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 2 October 1951 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
St John the Baptist's Church is a special community church located in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is considered a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building protected by law.
Contents
The History of St John's Church
How the Church Began
Burslem became its own church area, called a parish, in 1809. Before that, it was a smaller church area, known as a chapelry, within the larger parish of Stoke-upon-Trent. However, people often thought of it as its own parish because it had its own church leaders, called churchwardens, from as early as 1553.
Building the Church's Parts
The tall stone tower of St John's Church was built in 1536. It was made in a style called late perpendicular Gothic, which means it has tall, straight lines and large windows. The low door on the west side of the tower has a special arch shape known as a Tudor arch.
The main part of the church, called the nave, is made of brick. It was built in 1717. This new building replaced an older church that was made of wood and was destroyed in a fire. The sides of the church have tall windows with round tops.
Later, in 1788, the chancel was added. The chancel is the part of the church near the altar where the clergy sit. This chancel has a rounded east end, which is called apsidal. It also features a Venetian window, which is a large window made of three parts. People believe that Enoch Wood, who was a churchwarden at the time, was the one who pushed for the chancel to be built.
Exploring the Churchyard
The churchyard, which is the area around the church where people are buried, was made larger in 1804 and again in 1847. The older parts of the churchyard are surrounded by brick walls that were built in the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Famous Graves
Many people are buried in the churchyard. Among the graves, you can find the resting places of two famous potters: William Adams (who lived from 1746 to 1805) and Enoch Wood (who lived from 1759 to 1840). These potters were important figures in the history of Burslem, which is known for its pottery.
The Legend of Molly Leigh
The churchyard also holds the grave of Margaret (or Mollie) Leigh, who passed away in 1748. She was known in local stories as someone who was thought to be a witch. Her tomb is unusual because it is placed north–south, instead of the usual east–west direction.
People say that the rector (the main priest) of St John's Church, who had led her funeral, changed the direction of her tomb. This was done to try and make sure her ghost would stay at rest. This happened after rumors spread that she had been seen around Burslem even after her death. It's a fascinating local legend!
See also
- Listed buildings in Stoke-on-Trent
