St John the Divine, Kennington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Divine, Kennington |
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Photo of the church
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| Location | Vassall Road, Kennington, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 14 November 1874 |
| Founder(s) | The Reverend Daniel Elsdale |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Style | Gothic revival architecture |
| Years built | 1871 through 1874 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kennington |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Southwark |
St John the Divine, Kennington, is a special church in London that belongs to the Church of England. It's located in Kennington, a part of London overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. A famous architect named George Edmund Street designed it. He also designed the Royal Courts of Justice in London! The church was built between 1871 and 1874 in a style called Decorated Gothic. Today, it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical building.
The church stands on Vassall Road in Kennington, within the London Borough of Lambeth. It's close to Oval tube station and the Oval Cricket Ground. You can see its tall spire from far away.
Contents
Church Design and Features
St John the Divine is a great example of Victorian Gothic style. This means it looks like older Gothic churches but was built in the Victorian era. It's made mostly of red brick. However, all the fancy parts like the tops of walls (called parapets), window frames, and doorways are made of stone. The very top of the spire is completely stone.
At 61 meters (200 feet) tall, it's the highest spire in South London. The poet John Betjeman once said it was "the most magnificent church in South London."
The inside of the church was first designed by George Frederick Bodley. It was very decorated, which was common for churches built in the Victorian era and for Anglo-Catholic churches. It had stone carvings by Thomas Earp, metal altar rails, beautiful stained glass windows, and a carved screen behind the altar (called a reredos) painted by Clayton and Bell. A new organ was added in 1875.
Sadly, the church was badly damaged by bombs in 1941 during the Blitz in World War II. Most of the original inside decorations were lost. After many years of repair work, the church reopened in September 1958.
The Tower and Gargoyles
The church's spire and tower were fixed up in 1994. During this work, new carved figures called grotesques and gargoyles were added. Many of these carvings look like real people! They show members of the church, people from the British Royal Family, or church leaders. For example, you can find carvings of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Archbishop Michael Ramsey.
Stained Glass Windows
Most of the original stained glass was broken in the 1941 bombing. Now, the windows in the north and south sides are plain glass. However, some original stained glass designed by Charles Eamer Kempe still exists. These include the large window at the west end and two windows on the south side. The windows at the east end are also original.
During the repairs, new windows were put into the All Souls Chapel. These were designed and made by W. T. Carter Shapland.
Murals
Behind the main altar, there are large paintings called murals. These were painted by Brian Thomas in 1966. The painting on the left shows Mary, Jesus's mother, and Jesus in a garden of flowers. The middle painting has lilies and roses, which are symbols often linked to Mary. The painting on the right shows a pietà, where Mary holds the body of Jesus after he was crucified. This painting has a frame of thorns, which reminds us of the Crown of Thorns.
The Korean Icon
Above the North door, you can see something called the 'Korean Icon'. It looks like the special screens you might see in a Greek Orthodox church. It shows different people from the Christian Gospels. This icon was put there to remember Bishop Charles John Corfe, who started the Anglican Church of Korea in 1890.
The Kelham Rood
On the south side of the church, there's a large sculpture called the Kelham Rood. It's a life-size bronze sculpture of Jesus on the Cross. Next to it are separate figures of Saint John and the Virgin Mary. This amazing artwork was created by sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885–1934). He also designed the Royal Artillery Memorial in London's Hyde Park Corner. The Kelham Rood was finished in 1929.
This sculpture was first made for a chapel at Kelham Hall in Nottinghamshire. Later, it moved to another church in Willen (Milton Keynes) before coming to St John the Divine.
The original idea was to hang the sculpture high above the main altar. But instead, it was placed on the floor. This way, people in the church can see it up close.
Worship Style
Since it was founded in 1871, St John the Divine has been known for its high church style of worship. This means it has more ceremony and tradition. The second vicar, Reverend Charles Edward Brooke, was part of the Oxford Movement. This movement focused on bringing traditional practices back into the Church of England, especially in areas with many people.
The church's design and decorations show this high church style. You can see statues, icons (religious images), sanctuary lamps (lamps that stay lit), and the Reserved sacrament (bread and wine kept for communion). These traditions continue today. Services at St John the Divine are usually in the Anglo-Catholic style. This means they focus on sacraments, liturgy (the order of service), and ceremony.
On Sundays and special holy days, the clergy (church leaders) wear decorated robes. A choir sings the Mass, and incense is used. During the week, Mass is held daily. The services usually follow the Common Worship prayer book, which was published in 2000.
The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, a group of Anglican nuns, is named after this church. Their founder, Hannah Grier Coome, found comfort and spiritual guidance in this parish when she lived in Britain.
Important Church Leaders
- Cyril Easthaugh: He was a curate (assistant priest) and later the vicar here. He then became a Bishop.
- John Hall: He was also a curate here. Later, he became the Dean of Westminster.
See also
- List of churches and cathedrals of London
- List of Anglo-Catholic Churches
- British and Irish stained glass (1811–1918)
Images for kids
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The lectern
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The main door
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The spire, seen on Vassall Road
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The High Altar in Ordinary Time
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The Kelham Rood and the sanctuary
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Jagger's Kelham Rood
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A carving of Queen Elizabeth II, depicted holding a corgi
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A carving of Prince Charles
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The gargoyles on the spire, seen from below
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The nave roof, decorated by GF Bodley in 1890
