St John the Baptist's Church, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint John the Baptist, Tuebrook |
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Saint John the Baptist, Tuebrook
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| 53°25′29″N 2°55′48″W / 53.4248°N 2.9301°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 382 924 |
| Location | Tuebrook, Liverpool |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Consecrated | 20 May 1871 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 28 June 1958 |
| Architect(s) | George Frederick Bodley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1867 |
| Completed | 1870 |
| Construction cost | £25,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red and buff stone Tile and slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | West Derby |
| Archdeaconry | Liverpool |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a beautiful old church in Tuebrook, Liverpool, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. The church was built in the 1860s and was designed by a famous architect named George Frederick Bodley.
It is considered a very important building because of its amazing architecture. It's so special that it's a Grade I listed building. The church grounds also include the old vicarage (where the vicar lives) and a small mortuary building, both designed by Bodley. Interestingly, the Brockman Memorial Hall, which is part of the church site, was an early place where the Beatles performed!
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of Saint John the Baptist was built between 1867 and 1870. The entire cost of building it, which was about £25,000 (a huge amount back then!), was paid for by the wife of Reverend J. C. Reade. The main architect was George Frederick Bodley.
The inside of the church was redecorated in 1910 by Henry Hare, following Bodley's original ideas. Later, in 1968–71, it was restored again by Stephen Dykes Bower.
There was a bit of a disagreement before the church was officially opened. Bodley wanted to use an old altarpiece from the 1500s as the reredos (a screen behind the altar). However, the Bishop of Chester thought it looked too "Popish" (meaning too much like a Roman Catholic church). He refused to officially open the church until the altarpiece was removed. That altarpiece is now in St Michael's Church, Brighton.
The Church Today
The church continues to follow the Anglo-Catholic traditions it was founded on. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church had to reduce the number of services.
Today, St John's is still very active in its community. It hosts a weekly food bank in the church hall, helping people who need it. There's also a Sunday School for children. When public worship was stopped in March 2020, St John's started live streaming its Sunday services online so people could still participate from home.
Church Architecture
St John's church is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's considered one of the most important historical buildings in the country.
Outside the Church
The church is built with red and buff-colored stone, arranged in interesting patterns. The main roof is made of tiles, while the side roofs are slate. The church has a long main area called a nave, with a clerestory (a high section with windows) and side aisles.
It also has a tall tower at the west end, a porch at the north, and a chancel (the area around the altar) with a chapel. The tower has strong angled supports called buttresses and a main entrance below a large window. The top of the tower has openings for bells and a decorative top with pointed pinnacles. A tall, pointed spire sits on top of the tower.
Inside the Church
Experts describe the inside of St John's as "glorious" and "richly coloured." This is because of the amazing decorations and fittings designed by Bodley. The walls and ceilings are covered in beautiful stencil patterns. There's also a large wall painting on the east wall of the nave by C. E. Kempe. The golden reredos behind the altar, from 1871, has painted panels also by Kempe.
The area under the tower is now the Chapel of the Holy Rood. It has an altar and a special table called a credence table. These were made in 1978 from parts of an old screen designed by Bodley in 1890. The pulpit (where sermons are given) and the octagonal font (used for baptisms) were also designed by Bodley. The church also has richly painted screens, again with panels by Kempe.
Some of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by Morris & Co., and others by Burne-Jones. Inside the church, you can find memorials, including a brass memorial from 1926 to Rev. Ralph Brockman. There are also statues remembering those who served in the World Wars.
The Church Bells
The church has a set of eight bells that were made in 1869. There are also two smaller service bells and a practice bell. These bells were retuned and rehung in a new frame built by volunteers. They were rung again for the first time on Easter Sunday in 2003, after being silent for ten years.
The Organ
The impressive organ at St John's was built by William Hill and Son of London in 1867. It was installed in the church in time for its official opening in 1871. Hill organs are known for their bright, clear sound.
Some parts were added to the organ in 1895. For a while, the organ's keyboard was in a different part of the church, but by 1905, it was moved back to its original spot. Important repair work was done on the organ between 1991 and 2009. The organ's beautiful wooden case was designed by G.F. Bodley.
The organ at St. John's is special because it's one of the few Hill organs that hasn't been changed much over the years. Because of this, it was given an Historic Organ Certificate in 2009.
Other Buildings on Site
The Vicarage
The original vicarage, which is the house where the church's vicar lives, was finished in 1890. It was also designed by Bodley. This building is a Grade II listed building, made of grey brick with red brick details and a tile roof.
The Mortuary House
Also on the church grounds is the ruin of a Victorian mortuary house. This small building was also designed by Bodley and is a Grade II listed building. It faces Snaefell Avenue.
Brockman Hall and The Beatles
South of the main church building is the church hall, which used to be called the Brockman Memorial Hall. This hall is famous for being one of the early places where the Beatles performed!
Thanks to research by Gerry Murphy, a Beatles historian, it's confirmed that The Beatles played at Brockman Hall in Tuebrook twelve times in 1961. He also believes that Brian Epstein, who became the Beatles' manager, first saw them perform at Brockman Hall, not at the Cavern Club as many people think. Several audience members recognized Epstein from his family's music store.
The Beatles' performances were arranged by Mona Best, the mother of Pete Best, who was the band's drummer at the time. She wanted the band to play in local halls to become more well-known. Their first show there was on February 17, 1961. About 200 teenagers came to watch. Tickets cost 3 shillings and 6 pence, and The Beatles were paid £20.00 for their performance. They played there several more times in March and July, with their final show on August 31, 1961.
See also
