St John the Baptist Church, Coventry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist Church, Coventry |
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Front of the church viewed from Corporation Street
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| 52°24′28.86″N 1°30′58.75″W / 52.4080167°N 1.5163194°W | |
| Location | Coventry |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1344 |
| Founder(s) | Isabella of France |
| Consecrated | 2 May 1350 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Coventry St John the Baptist |
| Deanery | Coventry North |
| Archdeaconry | Coventry |
| Diocese | Coventry |
| Province | Canterbury |
St John the Baptist Church is an old church in the heart of Coventry, England. It's found in the historic Spon Street area. This church is very special because it's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's protected for its historical importance.
Contents
History of the Church
The Guild Chapel
This church was started in 1344 by Isabella of France. She gave land to a group called the 'Guild of St John'. They wanted to build a chapel to honor God and St John the Baptist. This chapel was for their own services. It also had two priests who would sing daily prayers for the royal family. The eastern part of the chapel was ready for use on May 2, 1350.
Over time, the number of priests grew. By the early 1500s, there were twelve priests. The chapel became a "collegiate" church, which means it was run by a group of priests.
From Chapel to Prison and Back
The church was used as a guild chapel until 1548. At that time, all religious guilds were closed down. In 1648, during the English Civil War, the church was used as a prison. It held Scottish soldiers who were captured after the Battle of Preston.
After this, the church was not used for worship for a long time. Around 1590, it stopped being a church. It was used as stables for horses, then a market, and even a place for winding and dyeing cloth. But in 1734, it was fixed up and became a place of worship again. Today, it is part of the Church of England Diocese of Coventry.
Inside the Church
Furnishings and Art
Most of the furniture and decorations inside St John's Church are from the late 1800s or early 1900s. These designs were inspired by a religious movement called the Oxford Movement. You can see a beautifully carved screen, called a rood screen, which looks like older medieval designs.
In the south chapel, there is a special decorated screen behind the altar called a reredos. It was made by Sir Ninian Comper. It features a central group of figures showing the crucifixion.
A Special Relic
St John the Baptist Church has a very old and special item: a relic of Saint Valentine of Rome. In 2016, this relic was shown on the altar during a church service on Saint Valentine's Day. It was kept in a special container called a reliquary.
St John's Today
St John's Church follows a traditional style of worship within the Church of England. This is known as Traditional Anglo-Catholic tradition. Because of this, the church does not support the ordination of women as priests or bishops.
The church has a special arrangement that allows it to receive guidance from the Bishop of Oswestry, who is currently Paul Thomas. The church is also connected with a group called The Society. The main priest of the church, Father Dexter Bracey, also represents The Society in the Diocese of Coventry.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Coventry
