St John the Evangelist, Great Stanmore facts for kids
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St. John the Evangelist's Church is an Anglican church in Stanmore, which is part of Harrow, Middlesex. This church is special because its name has been used for two different buildings.
One church was built in 1632 and is made of red brick. It is now old and in ruins. The second church was built in 1850 and is made of stone. This one is still used today. Both buildings are important and are listed as Grade II* historic sites.
History of the Stanmore Churches
The First Churches
The very first church in Stanmore was called St. Mary's. It was located on Old Church Lane. This church served the village for many years.
In 1632, a new church was built to replace St. Mary's. The old St. Mary's church was later taken down. Today, only a single tomb from that first church remains in a local garden.
The 1632 church was built closer to the village center. A rich merchant named Sir John Wolstenholme paid for it. William Laud, who was the Bishop of London at the time, officially opened it. This church was made of red brick.
The New Church
As Stanmore grew, more people needed a bigger church. Also, people's ideas about building styles changed. So, a third church building was started in 1850. After the new church was ready, the 1632 church was partly taken down and became a ruin.
The church you see today is built from two types of stone: Kentish rag and Bath stone. It was designed by an architect named Henry Clutton. He used a style called Early Decorated Gothic. The church was built by George Myers.
The new church cost £7,855 to build. A man named Douglas Gordon, who was the church's rector (a type of priest), gave £1,000. His father, George Hamilton-Gordon, the Earl of Aberdeen, gave even more money, £2,000. The Earl of Aberdeen later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was also buried at this church.
The new church was officially opened on July 16, 1850. The land for the church was given by Colonel Hamilton Tovey Tennent. The Earl of Aberdeen helped lay the first stone for the new church. Queen Adelaide, who was the wife of King William IV, was also there. She was living nearby at Bentley Priory. This was her last public appearance. Queen Adelaide gave the church its font (a basin for baptisms). The church's east window was later made to remember her.
Notable Burials
Many people are buried at St. John the Evangelist's Church. These include the Earl of Aberdeen, who is in a family vault. The famous writer W. S. Gilbert and his wife Lucy Agnes are also buried here.
