St John the Baptist Church, Knaresborough facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist, Knaresborough
St John the Baptist, Knaresborough
54°00′34″N 1°28′19″W / 54.00951°N 1.47185°W / 54.00951; -1.47185
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church / Central
Website	Knaresborough Anglican team website
History
Dedication	St John
Administration
Parish	Knaresborough
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven
Episcopal area	Ripon Episcopal Area
Diocese	Diocese of Leeds
Province	Province of York

St John the Baptist Church is a special church in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. It belongs to the Church of England and is the biggest church in the town. It's a place where people gather for worship and community events.

History of St John's Church

Records show that a church has stood on this spot since at least 1114. In that year, King Henry I gave the "Church at Cnaresburgh" to the canons (religious leaders) at Nostell Priory near Wakefield.

Changes Over Time

The church was first named after St Mary. But in the 16th century, its name changed to St John the Baptist. This happened after the English Reformation, a time when the Church in England made big changes.

The church got its bells in 1774. Later, a clock was put up in 1884.

On February 5, 1952, the church was given a special status. It became a grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.

St John's Church Today

You can find the church off Church Lane, close to the north bank of the River Nidd. For a while, it was the main church for the Bishop of Knaresborough. A suffragan bishop is a bishop who helps a more senior bishop.

The church is part of the Knaresborough parish. This parish belongs to the Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven. An archdeaconry is a part of a diocese, which is a large area managed by a bishop. St John's Church is part of the Diocese of Leeds.

Gallery

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  The church tower reaching high.

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  The Nave, where people sit during services.

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  The Chancel, near the altar.

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  A beautiful stained glass window.