St John the Evangelist's Catholic Church, Nottingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, George Street, Nottingham |
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Former Catholic Church of St John the Evangelist, Nottingham
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| 52°57′14″N 1°08′42″W / 52.953851°N 1.145132°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 57553 39973 |
| Location | Nottingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Edward James Willson |
| Style | Venetian Gothic |
| Completed | 1827 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 84ft long, 41ft wide and 31ft high |
| Length | 84 feet (26 m) |
| Width | 41 feet (12 m) |
| Height | 31 feet (9.4 m) |
St John the Evangelist's Church was the very first building made specifically for Roman Catholic worship in Nottingham. This happened after a period called the English Reformation, when Catholic churches were not allowed to be built. Today, the building is used as offices. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building protected by law.
Contents
History of the Church
For many years, Roman Catholics in Nottingham met in a small chapel. This was around 1790. Their group grew bigger, especially when a new priest, Father Robert William Willson, arrived. He helped the community grow to about 150 people.
Building the New Chapel
Father Willson had a great idea: to build a brand new, proper church. His brother, Edward James Willson, who was an architect, designed the building. It was built on George Street in Nottingham.
The church was quite large for its time. It was about 25.6 meters (84 feet) long, 12.5 meters (41 feet) wide, and 9.4 meters (31 feet) high. It was made from red bricks with a fancy stone front and a slate roof. The style of the building is called Venetian Gothic, which means it looks a bit like old buildings from Venice, Italy, with pointed arches and decorative details.
The Presbytery
Right next to the church, there's another important building called the Presbytery. This was also designed by Edward James Willson in 1827. A presbytery is a house where the priests live. This building is also a Grade II listed building, just like the church.
A New Chapter
St John the Evangelist's Church served the Catholic community for many years. However, in 1850, a much larger church, Nottingham Cathedral, was built. This new cathedral became the main Catholic church in Nottingham, and St John the Evangelist's Church was no longer used for regular services.
The Church Organ
Inside the church, there was a special musical instrument called a pipe organ. This organ was made by a company named George Parsons from London. Organs are large instruments that make music using air blown through many pipes.
