St John the Baptist's Church, Leytonstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Leytonstone |
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View of south elevation of St John's Church
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| Location | High Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 1HH |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.stjohns-leytonstone.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 24 February 1987 |
| Years built | 1658-1932 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | West Ham |
| Diocese | Chelmsford |
The Church of St John the Baptist, Leytonstone is an old church in East London. It was built in the 1800s and is part of the Church of England. You can find it on the High Road in Leytonstone. It is a special 'Grade II listed building', which means it's important and protected.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The First Church Building
Long ago, Leytonstone was part of a bigger area called Leyton. The only church for people in Leytonstone was in Leyton. In 1748, some rich people thought it was too hard to get to that church. They wanted a smaller church, called a chapel of ease, built closer to home.
Even though some people disagreed, a small chapel was built. It opened in 1749. This chapel was paid for by local people. It was later made bigger in 1819. The chapel could seat 580 people. Many seats were free for those who could not pay.
After the new church was built, this old chapel became a school. Later, it was used for meetings. It was finally taken down in 1938.
Building the New Church
In 1830, the vicar of Leyton said the old chapel was falling apart. He also said it was too small. People started raising money for a new church. A man named Joseph Cotton gave £1,000.
In 1831, an architect named Edward Blore drew plans for the new church. A large piece of land was bought for the church. It was paid for by William Cotton, Joseph Cotton's son.
The first stone of the new church was laid on July 20, 1832. The church was built in an old English style. It used yellow bricks and stone. It had a main hall, a special area for the altar, and a bell tower. About 600 people could sit inside.
The church was officially opened on October 31, 1833. The churchyard was also fenced in. Six bells were made for the church. They were named after women from the Cotton and Davis families. In 1845, St John's Church became its own separate parish.
A Famous Visitor's Friends
In 1870, Horace Waller became the vicar of St John's. He was a strong supporter of ending slavery. He was friends with many people who explored Africa, like David Livingstone.
After Livingstone died in 1873, his African helpers, Abdullah Susi and James Chuma, came to England. Waller invited them to stay at the vicarage in Leytonstone. There, they helped Waller get Livingstone's travel journals ready for publishing. Susi and Chuma even built a small copy of Livingstone's African hut in the vicarage garden!
Growing the Church Building
When the railway came to Leytonstone in 1856, more people moved to the area. The church needed to get bigger. Several new smaller churches were also built nearby.
Plans to make St John's Church bigger were approved in 1893. New parts were added, including a special area for the choir. This added 140 new seats. A new, large organ was also put in. It replaced an old organ that played only 66 hymns. A stone pulpit (where the preacher stands) was also added. These new parts were opened in 1893. A bigger room for the clergy was finished in 1902.
In 1909, a new side aisle was built. It was made even longer in 1928. In 2003, a ramp was added for wheelchairs. St John's Church was given its Grade II listed building status in 1987.
St John's Church Today
Reverend David Britton became the vicar in July 2014.
Fun Events at the Church
- The Stones Throw Market: Here, you can find local designs. This includes jewelry, pottery, and homemade cakes.
- Churchyard Market: Another market held outside the church.
- Outdoor Film Screenings: Sometimes, movies by Alfred Hitchcock are shown in the churchyard.
- Tower Tours: You can climb the church tower for amazing views. See famous London buildings like Canary Wharf and The Shard.
- Repair Cafe: This is a free service from Waltham Forest Council. Experts help fix bikes and electrical items.
Bell Ringing Team
In 2020, St John's had an active team of bell ringers. They rang the bells for Sunday services. They also practiced on Monday evenings.
A very famous bell ringer named William Pye used to ring here. He lived from 1870 to 1935. He was known as "the greatest ringer of his time." Two new bells were bought for St John's to remember him. This made a total of eight bells.
