St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes
St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes, from the south
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OS grid reference	SJ 507,698
Location	Ashton Hayes, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St John, Ashton Hayes
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	John the Evangelist
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	8 November 1985
Architect(s)	1849 E. H. Shellard 1900 Douglas and Minshull 1932 Theodore Fyfe
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1849
Completed	1932
Specifications
Materials	Buff sandstone Lakeland green slate roof
Administration
Parish	St John the Evangelist, Ashton Hayes
Deanery	Chester
Archdeaconry	Chester
Diocese	Chester
Province	York

St John the Evangelist's Church is a special old building located just north of Ashton Hayes village in Cheshire, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's still used for services today. This church is so important that it's officially protected as a Grade II listed building, which means it has historical or architectural value. It belongs to the diocese of Chester.

A Look Back: Church History
- Who Designed and Built the Church?
- Later Additions and Changes
Exploring the Church's Design
- Outside the Church: Materials and Features
  - Church Layout and Tower
  - Details of the Tower
- Inside the Church: What You'll See
  - Main Areas and Chapel
  - Special Features and Art
Churchyard Features
Images for kids
See also

A Look Back: Church History

The area where St John's Church stands was once part of a larger church district called Tarvin. In 1849, St John's became its own separate parish (a church district). That same year, the church building was constructed.

Who Designed and Built the Church?

The church was designed by an architect named E. H. Shellard from Manchester. A person named William Atkinson paid for the entire building.

Later Additions and Changes

Over the years, the church was updated. In 1900, a vestry (a room for clergy and church items) was added. The chancel (the area around the altar) was also changed by architects Douglas and Minshull. Later, in 1932, a north chapel was added by Theodore Fyfe.

Exploring the Church's Design

The church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like older medieval Gothic churches.

Outside the Church: Materials and Features

The church is made from buff sandstone that has been cut smoothly, called ashlar. Its roof is covered with green slate from the Lake District.

Church Layout and Tower

The church has a main area called a nave with four sections, and a chancel with two sections. There's also a north aisle (a side passage) with a chapel at its end, a south porch, and a vestry. At the west end of the church, there's a tall tower with a spire on top.

Details of the Tower

The tower has three main levels. It has strong diagonal buttresses (supports) and decorative bands between each level. At the very top, there's a parapet with a jagged, castle-like edge. A small stair turret sticks out from the northeast corner. On the west side of the tower, you can see a window with three lights (sections). The second level has a clock, and above that are three-light louvred openings where the bells are. The spire itself is set back a bit and has small windows called lucarnes.

Inside the Church: What You'll See

The inside of the church has a simple design.

Main Areas and Chapel

There's a four-section arcade (a row of arches) on the north side. The chancel has a painted roof, which is quite decorative. The chapel has a rounded, flattened end called an apsidal end, and its ceiling is shaped like a half-barrel, known as a barrel vault.

Special Features and Art

The pulpit (where sermons are given) is designed in the Art Nouveau style, which was popular around the turn of the 20th century. Inside the church, there's a special monument dedicated to William Atkinson, who passed away in 1883. The windows feature beautiful stained glass created by A. K. Nicholson. The organ, which makes music for services, is located in the west gallery and was built by Charles Whiteley and Company.

Churchyard Features

Outside the church, in the churchyard, there's a war grave memorial. This memorial was put up by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to remember a soldier from the Cheshire Regiment who died during World War II.

Images for kids

St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes, from the south

St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes facts for kids

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