St John the Baptist's Church, Wakefield, West Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist |
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| Church of Saint John the Baptist | |
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| 53°41′18″N 1°30′20″W / 53.6884°N 1.5055°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 32753 21438 |
| Location | St John's Square, Wakefield, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1791 |
| Completed | 1795 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a historic church in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves a local community. This church is a very important building, listed as Grade II* listed since 1971. This means it has special historical or architectural importance. St John's is one of two main Anglican churches in Wakefield city centre. The other, larger one, is Wakefield Cathedral.
Contents
Discovering the Church's History
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The Church of Saint John the Baptist was built a long time ago, between 1791 and 1795. Charles Watson, an architect from Doncaster and York, designed it. Later, in 1885 and 1905, the church was changed and made bigger by another architect, John Thomas Micklethwaite.
This church was not built alone. It was the main building in a new area developed north of Wakefield city centre. Its design matches the other buildings from that time, known as Georgian architecture. This style was popular during the reigns of the British kings George I to George IV. The church's tower was also rebuilt in 1885 by Micklethwaite, and other changes were made inside.
Exploring the Church Grounds
The church is located in St John's Square, surrounded by open, green spaces. Trees line the grounds, and old Georgian-style houses look over them. There isn't a large graveyard, but you can find a few graves and memorials.
Close to Wentworth Street, the church's main part (the nave) stands. In the north-east corner of the grounds, there is a special war memorial. It remembers the workers from Wrenthorpe Colliery who sadly died in the First World War.
Why the Church is Special: Its Architecture
The Church of Saint John the Baptist was given a Grade II* listing on March 29, 1971. This means it is a very important building because of its amazing architecture.
Understanding the Church's Style
The church is built from a type of stone called Ashlar sandstone. Its main roof is made of slate, and other parts have a lead roof. The building is designed in a classical style. This means it uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, like columns and balanced shapes.
The Church Tower
The tower you see today is not the first one. It was rebuilt in 1885 by J. T. Micklethwaite, an architect from London. This tower has five levels. It also has a special area for the choir (chancel), a small chapel, and a space for the organ.
At the bottom of the tower, there is a main entrance with special columns called Tuscan pilasters. The very top part of the tower is shaped like an octagon. It has round openings for the bells and a clock face. A dome with a weather vane on top finishes the tower. Inside the tower, there are two stone staircases that seem to hang in the air.
The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. It has five sections. The windows on the upper level are round at the top, while the lower windows have a flatter, curved top.
On the south side, there's a special oval panel with decorative carvings. The back of the nave has porches with simple tops and doors on the north and south sides. Inside, the nave has a smooth, plastered ceiling with three round, sunken panels. The walls are also plastered, and the floor is made of large flat stones.
The Chancel: Where the Altar Is
The chancel is the part of the church near the altar. It has two sections. The windows in the chancel are high up and have a special shape called Discletian.
You can see a statue of John the Baptist in a round-shaped space. There's also a special symbol, the IHS monogram, on a low wall. The chancel has Tuscan columns and a painted ceiling that is curved like a barrel. A porch was added to the chancel in 1905. The floor here is made of black and white marble.
Chapel and Vestry
There is a small chapel with one section. Above it, there is a space for the organ. The chapel has a window that looks like it's there but is actually blocked off. It connects to the chancel through entrances with columns. There is also a small room called a vestry, which has a curved-top window and a door.
Inside the Church: Fixtures and Furnishings
Some of the original wooden seats, called pews, are still in the church. Most of the other furniture was added in the late 1800s when the church was restored.
There is a pulpit, which is a raised platform for speaking. It has many sides with decorated panels and is dated 1822, though the pulpit itself might be from a bit later. The chancel has a wooden paneling along the lower wall from 1912. The choir stalls, where the choir sits, are from the 1900s and have fancy carvings.
You can also see a reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar. This one shows the crucifixion and is framed by columns. Communion rails were added in 1905. There is another reredos in the north chapel. On the walls, you'll find memorial tablets from the 1700s and 1800s. There are also square panels from the 1900s showing the Stations of the Cross, which tell the story of Jesus's last day.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
The church has several beautiful stained glass windows. The windows in the chancel were made in 1905. The window in the chapel was created by E. Pickett & Co of Leeds. The South window was designed by H. Hughes and dates back to 1868.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Wakefield
