St John the Divine, Richmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Divine, Richmond |
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St John the Divine from St John's Road, Richmond
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| 51°27′51″N 0°18′01″W / 51.4642°N 0.3003°W | |
| Location | Richmond, London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1831 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Lewis Vulliamy (original building); Arthur Grove (later additions and church hall) |
| Style | Early Gothic revival |
| Completed | 1836 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John the Divine, Richmond |
| Deanery | Richmond & Barnes |
| Archdeaconry | Wandsworth |
| Episcopal area | Kingston |
| Diocese | Southwark |
| Province | Canterbury |
St John the Divine, Richmond is a historic church in Richmond, London. It is located on Kew Road, close to Richmond railway station. This church is part of the Church of England and is a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical site.
The church was built in 1836. It was designed by Lewis Vulliamy in an early Gothic Revival style. Since 1996, St John the Divine has been part of the Richmond Team Ministry. This group also includes St Mary Magdalene and St Matthias churches.
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History of St John the Divine
Richmond grew very quickly in the 1700s and early 1800s. By the 1820s, Richmond's main church, St Mary Magdalene, was too small. People needed a new church to go to.
Building the Church
So, in 1831, the local church leaders decided to build a new church. St John the Divine was finished in 1836. The land for the church was given by a local landowner, William Selwyn. The main architect was Lewis Vulliamy. Some people thought Vulliamy's design for the tower and flying buttresses was unusual. However, the east end of the church, added later by Arthur Grove, is considered very beautiful. In 1838, St John the Divine became its own parish church.
The Church Organ
The church has a special organ built by Beale and Thynne. It was first used in December 1896. This organ is very old and still looks much like it did when it was first made. It has been carefully fixed up and restored.
Additions in the 1900s
More parts were added to the church between 1904 and 1905. These included a chancel (the area around the altar), a south chapel, and vestries (rooms for clergy). Arthur Grove designed these new sections.
In 1908, Nathaniel Westlake painted the ceiling of the sanctuary (the holiest part of the church). His paintings show scenes from the Bible. He also made the triptych (a three-part artwork) behind the altar. Westlake also painted the Stations of the Cross, which are pictures showing Jesus's journey to the cross. These were later replaced by stone carvings by Freda Skinner.
Eric Gill carved some of the stonework, including parts of the triptych. The Calvary sculpture, which is outside on the east side of the church, was carved by Richard Garbe. A church hall, made of brick, was built in 1911.
Later, in 1980–1981, some changes were made inside the church. These changes allowed the church to be used for concerts sometimes. They also added a meeting room, restrooms, and places for people to live.
Restoration in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) in the Lady Chapel was restored. This work was done by Howell and Bellion.
Important People from St John's
Vigo Auguste Demant (1893–1983) was the vicar at St John the Divine from 1933 to 1942. He later became a Canon at St Paul's Cathedral and a professor at Oxford University. He was also a regular speaker on the BBC in the 1950s.
Worship at St John the Divine
The church's style of worship is described as "modern/liberal Catholic." This means it combines traditional elements with a more open approach. A service called Eucharist is held every Sunday at 11:00 am. There is also a service on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.
Photo gallery
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The West façade of the church
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The spire viewed from above the trees
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The Sanctuary
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The Triptych by Nathaniel Westlake
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The chancel ceiling by Westlake
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Interior view
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The recently restored Lady Chapel, restored in the 21st century
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Calvary sculpture on the East end exterior by Richard Garbe (1876–1957)
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Stations of the Cross by Freda Skinner
