St John the Evangelist's Church, Chichester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church |
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The church from the west
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| 50°50′07″N 0°46′30″W / 50.8354°N 0.7749°W | |
| Location | St John's Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1UR |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Proprietary chapel |
| Founded | 1812 |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Events | 1973: Declared redundant 1976: Placed in the care of the Redundant Churches Fund (now the Churches Conservation Trust) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 5 July 1950 |
| Architect(s) | James Elmes |
| Style | Greek Revival/Classical |
| Completed | 1813 |
St John the Evangelist's Church is an old Anglican church in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. It was built in 1812 by James Elmes. This church was designed as a special kind of church called a proprietary chapel. It has a unique octagonal (eight-sided) shape and is made of white brick.
This building shows how churches were designed in the early 1800s. Back then, some people in the Church of England focused a lot on preaching. The church was declared no longer needed for regular worship in 1973. Even though church services don't happen there anymore, its design makes it a great place for concerts and music events. It is a very important historical building, listed as Grade I.
History of St John's Church
Chichester is an old city in West Sussex. It has a long history, going back to Roman times. The city center is still surrounded by old Roman walls. The cathedral makes Chichester an important religious center. It is also a busy place for business and government.
Inside the city walls, there were many old churches. But the southeastern part of the city, called New Town, didn't have an Anglican church until the early 1800s. At this time, many new churches were being built across Sussex. This was partly because more people were moving to cities. Also, new ideas about church design were becoming popular.
Some churches were paid for by the government. Others were funded by church groups. But in Sussex, people often raised money privately. This was done through a "proprietary system." People would buy shares in the church. In return, they got the right to use a pew (a church bench). These shareholders, called proprietors, could use their pew or rent it out. This money helped pay the church's minister. A few pews were always kept free for poorer people.
St John the Evangelist's Church was built this way. A group of people started it in 1812. They wanted a church in the southeastern part of Chichester. They hired James Elmes, a 30-year-old architect, to design it. He was sick during the project, so another architect, John Haviland, helped oversee the building.
Around this time, there were different ideas about how Anglican churches should look. One group, called the "High church" movement, liked formal services and grand, decorated churches. They preferred the Gothic style with large altars. Another group, the "Low church" or Evangelical wing, focused more on preaching and personal faith. They preferred simpler churches.
St John the Evangelist's Church was designed for the "Low church" style. It had a very large central pulpit (where the preacher stands). This was the main focus for everyone. The altar was very small and simple. The tall pulpit made sure the preacher could see and be heard by everyone.
The church is shaped like a long octagon. It was built in the Classical style with some Greek Revival features. It cost about £7,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! It opened in 1813 and was used for over 160 years.
Later, fewer people attended services. So, in 1973, the church was declared "redundant." This means it was no longer needed for regular worship. Three years later, it was taken care of by the Redundant Churches Fund. This group is now called the Churches Conservation Trust. The church is still considered a holy place and sometimes holds special services.
Architecture and Design
St John the Evangelist's Church has a mostly Classical design. It also has some elements from Greek Revival and even Egyptian Revival styles. It's a great example of a "Georgian auditory church." This means it was designed for preaching and teaching, following "Low church" ideas. It looks simpler than many Anglican churches, sometimes more like a Nonconformist chapel.
The outside walls of the eight-sided building are made of yellowish-white brick. Some parts are covered in stucco. A very interesting feature on the roof is a small copy of an ancient Greek monument. This stone structure is shaped like a cylinder with a round roof. It has columns like those from ancient Greece. Inside this structure is a bell made in London in 1813.
The main entrance is on the west side. Above the entrance is a round window with stone decorations. This window has a stone triangle shape (pediment) above it. All the other seven walls also have arched windows on the upper floor. Next to the entrance are two small rooms. These rooms hold staircases that lead up to the galleries inside.
Inside, the most noticeable features are the galleries. These are like balconies that go around the inside of the church, forming a rectangle. They are supported by iron columns that look like Egyptian designs. The huge pulpit also "towers over everything." This design is a rare and excellent example of a style popular in the early 1800s. It was common in Nonconformist chapels and "Low church" Anglican churches.
The galleries are made of American birch wood. You reach them by staircases in the small rooms next to the main entrance. In churches of this time, men and women often sat separately. Also, at St John's, the free pews (for the poor) were on the ground floor. The pews owned by the proprietors were in the galleries.
The pulpit stands in the middle of the church. It hides the small altar area behind it. This church has one of the best "three-decker" pulpits still existing in Sussex. A three-decker pulpit has three levels. Each level was used for a different part of the church service. The lowest level was for the church clerk to read responses to prayers. The middle level was for the main part of the service, including prayers. The top, circular level was for the sermon. The sermon was the most important part of a "Low church" service. The pulpit is made of American birch, like the other wooden parts inside.
St John's Church Today
St John the Evangelist's Church was recognized as a Grade I Listed building on July 5, 1950. This means it is a very important historical building.
The church was declared "redundant" (no longer needed for regular worship) on June 22, 1973. On August 17, 1976, it was placed under the care of the Redundant Churches Fund. This group is now called the Churches Conservation Trust. They look after old churches that are no longer used for daily services. St John's is one of five former churches in West Sussex cared for by this charity.
The church has always been known for its music. Today, it is often used as a place for concerts and musical events. This is especially true during the annual Chichester Festivities, which is a big arts and music festival.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Southeast England
- List of former places of worship in Chichester (district)
- Egyptian Revival architecture in the British Isles
