St John the Baptist's Church, Westbourne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church
50°51′37″N 0°55′40″W / 50.8604°N 0.9278°W / 50.8604; -0.9278 (St John the Baptist's Church, Westbourne)
Location	The Grove, Westbourne, West Sussex PO10 8UL
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
Website	http://westbourneparishchurch.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	Early 13th Century
Dedication	John the Baptist
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Style	Perpendicular Gothic
Administration
Deanery	Westbourne
Archdeaconry	Chichester
Diocese	Chichester
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St John the Baptist is a historic church in the village of Westbourne, West Sussex, England. It is part of the Anglican Church and is named after John the Baptist. This beautiful church has been a central part of the community for centuries.

A Look at the Church's History and Design

The story of St John the Baptist's Church goes way back! In 1086, a very old survey called the Domesday Book mentioned two churches in the area. It's possible one of them was right here in Westbourne. Some people even think parts of a much older church, perhaps from the Saxon or Norman times, might be hidden beneath the current building.

Building Through the Centuries

The church you see today started to take shape in the early 1200s. Back then, it had a main area called a nave, with side sections known as aisles. It also had a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is.

Later, in the late 1300s, the church got bigger. The nave and aisles were extended, and new windows were added. A tower was likely built in the south-west corner around this time. These changes made the church the size it is today.

In the early 1500s, the church was updated again in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This meant replacing thick pillars with taller, thinner ones and changing the shape of the arches. The chancel was also made taller and wider, and a porch was added on the north side. The current west tower was built, and an older tower was taken down. You can still see a piece of the old tower's pillar inside the church!

Changes Over the Years

In 1545, a special row of Yew Trees was planted outside the church. People believe this is the oldest avenue of yew trees in the whole United Kingdom!

Over the next few centuries, more changes happened. In the late 1500s, galleries were built over the aisles, and flat ceilings were added. A spire was put on the tower in 1770, but it was later removed. The church also got new pews (the long benches where people sit) in 1797.

Major renovations took place in 1865. Old boxed pews and galleries were removed, and new pine pews were installed. A new south porch was built, and the old stone north porch was rebuilt in oak. These changes were quite big! Later, in 1957, the spire was re-covered, and a weather vane that had blown away years before was put back up. The church floor was replaced with stone in 1981.

Beautiful Stained Glass and Graveyard

All the colourful stained glass windows you see in the church today were put in between 1865 and 1912. There's one exception: the west window in the south aisle, which has older glass from 1840. The church's graveyard was closed for new burials in 1859, but it's still a peaceful place surrounded by a lovely wall.

Worship and Music at St John the Baptist

St John the Baptist Church is an active place of worship. Every Sunday, there are services like Parish Communion and early morning communion. Sometimes, evening services are held at the church or at the nearby church in Woodmancote. There's also a morning service on Wednesdays.

The church uses both traditional service books like the Book of Common Prayer and more modern ones like Common Worship. They try to have services that welcome people of all ages. For younger members, there's Sunday school and a junior choir. Music is a very important part of worship here, with a strong choir that provides choral music.

The Church Organ

The church has had an organ since at least 1819. In 1862, a new organ was installed, and it was made bigger in 1876. Over the years, the organ was updated and rebuilt several times. In 2001, a brand new organ was built by Kenneth Tickell & Co, and it's still used today for services.

• The organ, on the church website
• Details of the Kenneth Tickell organ from the National Pipe Register

The Church Bells

The church originally had four bells in 1724. By 1770, that number grew to six, and then to eight in 1933. Today, the bells are rung using a method called full-circle ringing for Sunday services. The heaviest bell, called the tenor bell, weighs almost half a ton!

Past Rectors of the Church

A rector is the main priest in charge of a parish church. Here is a list of the rectors who have served St John the Baptist's Church over many centuries:

Images for kids

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  St John the Baptist's Church in Westbourne

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
• List of current places of worship in Chichester (district)