St John the Baptist Church, Peterborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist Church, Peterborough |
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| Peterborough Parish Church | |
St John the Baptist Church from Church Street
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| 52°34′22″N 0°14′38″W / 52.5727°N 0.2439°W | |
| Location | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 1952 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John the Baptist, Peterborough |
| Deanery | Deanery of Peterborough |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oakham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Diocese of Canterbury |
St John the Baptist Church is a very old and important church in Peterborough, England. It is a Church of England parish church and is considered a Grade I listed building. This means it's a special historic building that is protected because of its unique architecture and history.
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Where is St John the Baptist Church Located?
St John the Baptist Church is in Cathedral Square, very close to Peterborough Cathedral. You might wonder why two big churches are so near each other. The Cathedral was originally for monks, while St John's was built for the people living in the town.
This church is officially known as Peterborough's parish church. The person in charge of it is called the Vicar of Peterborough. There are other Anglican churches in the city, but St John's holds a special place.
A Look Back: The History of St John's Church
The first church for the parish was built in the 11th century, a long time ago! It was located further east than the current church. As Peterborough grew and its town center moved west, the church moved too. Workers carefully took the old church apart, stone by stone, and rebuilt it in its current spot.
Construction on the church you see today began in 1402. It was officially opened and named after St John the Baptist on June 26, 1407.
Royal Funerals and Church Bells
In the 16th century, two queens were buried at the nearby Peterborough Cathedral. These were Katherine of Aragon in 1536 and Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587. The same person, Robert Scarlett, who was a sexton at St John's, helped with both burials. The bells of St John's Church rang out for both royal funerals.
Changes Over the Centuries
After the English Civil War in 1651, there was a plan to take down the church and use its stones for other buildings. Luckily, this plan never happened, and the church remained standing.
In 1819, the church underwent some big changes. Old parts were removed, and new features like a clerestory (an upper wall with windows) and galleries (balconies inside) were added.
More important restoration work happened in 1882-1883. A famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson designed new roofs and made other improvements. The galleries were taken out, and the east window was changed to let in more light. A new pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) was also added. This work cost a lot of money, about £11,000 at the time!
In 1938, the church was redecorated in a style called High Anglican. This included adding a new rood (a large cross) and a beautifully painted and gilded reredos (a screen behind the altar) with carved figures. These figures were made by Mahomet Thomas Phillips.
Special Stained-Glass Window
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In 1968, a new stained-glass window was put into the church. It was designed by an artist named Brian Thomas. This window shows important people connected to Peterborough's history. These include:
- Simon Gunton, who was the vicar during a time of plague between 1665 and 1667.
- Nurse Edith Cavell, a brave nurse who died in 1915.
- Captain Thomas Mellows, who fought in the French Resistance during World War II and died in 1944.
- William Law, a famous writer who died in 1761.
This special window is dedicated to James Ruddle (1830-1898) and his wife Edith. James Ruddle was a well-known local architect who worked on many buildings in the Peterborough area.
Why St John's is a Grade I Listed Building
St John the Baptist Church was given its Grade I heritage listing in 1952. This important status recognizes it as a very significant and "architecturally ambitious parish church." It is a great example of a "Perpendicular town church design," which is a style of architecture from the 15th century.
Experts also noted its "very fine" south porch, its 15th-century font (a basin used for baptisms), its 20th-century screens, and its interesting monuments and tombs. All these features make St John's a truly special historical building.
