St John the Baptist Church, Rochdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church |
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| St John the Baptist Church | |
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| 53°36′41″N 2°09′18″W / 53.6113°N 2.1549°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD8985112760 |
| Location | Rochdale, Greater Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | RochdaleOnline.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 15 September 1998 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Oswald Hill and Ernest Bower Norris |
| Style | Byzantine Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1925 |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Gabriel and the Angels and St John the Baptist |
| Deanery | St Thérèse of Lisieux |
| Diocese | Salford |
| Province | Liverpool |
St John the Baptist Church is a Roman Catholic church in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is a Parish church, meaning it serves a local community. The church was first started in 1830, and the building you see today was finished in 1927.
It stands on the corner of Maclure Road and Dowling Street in the town centre. The church is famous for its Byzantine Revival style, which means it looks like old churches from the Byzantine Empire. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building.
Church History
Early Beginnings
A Catholic priest first came to Rochdale in 1824. His name was Father William Turner. He later became a Bishop (a senior leader in the church) for Salford. At first, church services, called Mass, were held in a warehouse room.
In 1829, the first St John's Church was built on Ann Street. Father Turner was the priest there until 1835. He was then replaced by Father Dowling. In 1860, a new brick church was built to replace the first one.
Building the New Church
From 1898 to 1937, a priest named Canon Henry Chipp was in charge. A "Canon" is a special title for a priest. Canon Chipp wanted a much bigger church. He hoped it would look like the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
The main architect (the person who designs buildings) for St John the Baptist Church was Henry Oswald Hill. He was related to Charles Joseph Gadd, who was a very important leader in the Salford Diocese. The church's design was also inspired by Westminster Cathedral in London.
Sadly, Henry Oswald Hill died in 1917 during World War I. He was flying as a captain in the Royal Flying Corp. Even though he died, his designs for the church were still used. He had also designed several other churches in the area.
After Hill's death, his architectural firm was taken over by Henry Thomas Sandy and then by Ernest Bower Norris. St John's Church was the first time Norris had built a church in the Byzantine style.
The church was built between 1925 and 1927. The original plan included a bell tower, but it was never built. From 1930 to 1933, a beautiful mosaic was created in the church's main worship area, called the sanctuary. A mosaic is a picture made from small pieces of coloured glass or stone. This mosaic cost a lot of money and was made by skilled artists in Manchester.
In 1966, a presbytery was built next to the church. A presbytery is where the priest lives. Later, in 1998, a new home for the priest was added. This meant the old presbytery and part of the church had to be changed.
The Church Community
St John the Baptist Church is part of a larger church community, or parish. This parish is called "St Gabriel and the Angels and St John the Baptist." It includes St John's Church and St Gabriel and the Angels Church in Castleton, Greater Manchester.
St Gabriel and the Angels Church started as a "mission" from St John the Baptist Church in 1879. A mission is like a new church outreach. Over time, a chapel and school were built, and then a presbytery. In 1951, as more Catholic families moved to the area, an old cinema was bought and turned into the current St Gabriel and the Angels Church.
Today, St John the Baptist Church holds a Sunday Mass (church service) at 9:30 AM. St Gabriel and the Angels Church has a Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Rochdale
