St John the Baptist, Kentish Town facts for kids
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The building known today as the Christ Apostolic Church in Kentish Town, London, has a long and interesting history. It was once called St John the Baptist church. You can find it at 23 Highgate Road. This building is very special because it is a grade II listed building. This means it is an important historic place that needs to be protected.
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What is a Listed Building?
A listed building is a special building that has been officially recognized for its historical or architectural importance. It's like a national treasure! Being "Grade II listed" means it's a building of special interest, and efforts are made to keep it safe for the future. This helps protect old buildings from being changed too much or knocked down.
A Church with a Long History
The spot where the church stands has been a place of worship for a very long time.
From Chapel to Church
Long ago, there was a small, old chapel on this site. A chapel is a smaller place for people to pray. In 1783, this old chapel was replaced. A famous architect named James Wyatt designed the new church.
Rebuilding and New Life
Later, between 1843 and 1845, the church was rebuilt again. This time, the architect was James Hakewill. He used some parts of the older church, like the main walls and the curved end part (called the apse).
For many years, the building served as a church. However, in 1993, it was no longer used for regular church services. For a while, it was used for other events. More recently, the Christ Apostolic Church UK took over the building. Now, it is once again a busy place of worship.
Protecting Our Heritage
This historic church is currently on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register. This means that the building needs some care and attention to make sure it stays in good condition for many more years. Being on this list helps people know that the building is important and needs help to be preserved.
