St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood
Location in London Borough of Croydon
|
|
| 51°24′41″N 0°04′48″W / 51.411504°N 0.080056°W | |
| Location | 1 Sylvan Road, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 2RX |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Inclusive Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 6 May 1878 |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Consecrated | 30 April 1887 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | John Loughborough Pearson |
| Style | Gothic revival architecture |
| Years built | 1878 and 1887 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Upper Norwood |
| Deanery | Croydon North |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Croydon |
| Episcopal area | Croydon Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwark |
The Church of St John the Evangelist is a Church of England church. It is located in Upper Norwood, a part of South London, in the United Kingdom. This church is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. It is made of red brick and built in the Gothic Revival style. The famous English architect John Loughborough Pearson designed it between 1878 and 1887. The church is named after the Christian saint, John the Evangelist.
Contents
History of St John the Evangelist Church
In the 1870s, London was growing fast. New houses were being built in Upper Norwood. These homes were for everyone, from rich business people to regular workers. Before the permanent church, a large, temporary iron church was used for worship. In October 1875, this iron church moved to where the main church stands today.
In early 1876, it became a parish church. The first vicar, Rev William Fairbairn La Trobe-Bateman, worked hard to raise money. He wanted to build a lasting church to replace the iron one. His fundraising efforts got a boost from a special fund. This fund was set up after his wife sadly passed away in 1878.
The church hired John Loughborough Pearson as the architect. He was famous for designing many churches in the popular Gothic Revival style. He had just finished a big church in North London, St Augustine's, Kilburn, in 1877. Pearson planned a church for Upper Norwood that could seat 1000 people. The first stone was laid on May 6, 1878. But building could not start until enough money was collected.
The Church Commissioners gave an extra £1000. They said the church must include a tower in its plans. In 1881, construction finally began. After six years of building, the church was officially opened on April 30, 1887. However, due to money problems, the church never got its spire.
Architecture and Design
Pearson's design for the church has a simple red brick outside. It has two small towers at the west end. The church is about 160-foot (49 m) long and shaped like a cross. The original plan included a 208-foot (63 m)-high tower on the south side, but it was never finished. High windows above the main part of the church let in light.
Inside, the church has brick walls and arched ceilings. A striking feature is the large stone screen across the chancel (the area around the altar). This screen has five gothic arches and four statues. There is also a large, beautifully carved stone reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar).
The church was damaged during World War II bombing. Restoration work happened between 1946 and 1951. The original stained glass windows were lost in the bombing. However, a large rose window survived. This window was designed by Ninian Comper, a famous Gothic Revival artist. He lived nearby in Upper Norwood.
The building has had problems with subsidence (when the ground sinks). This has meant rebuilding parts of the church, like the rood screen. Work to make the building safe has been completed. This was possible with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other supporters. Now, work is ongoing to fix the inside parts damaged by the sinking ground.
Music at St John's Church
The Church of St John the Evangelist has a long history of great music. The church organ was built by Thomas Christopher Lewis in 1882. This was when only the chancel part of the church was finished. The organ had an unusual design. The main organ was in one part of the church, but the keyboard was on the other side. This caused technical issues.
The organ has been rebuilt several times. This happened in 1912, 1947 (after bomb damage), and most recently in 1997-98. The company Harrison & Harrison did the latest restoration.
The church is known for its excellent acoustics (how sound travels in a space). Because of this, many classical music artists use it for recording CDs. These include groups like His Majesty's Sagbutts & Cornetts and I Fagiolini.
The church has also been a filming location. Two music videos for the choir Libera were made here.
Location of the Church
The church is located at the corner of Auckland Road and Sylvan Road. It is about 0.6 miles (0.97 km) south of Crystal Palace Park. It is also about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) north-east of the Croydon transmitter. The closest train stations are Crystal Palace and Anerley.
Notable People Connected to the Church
Many important clergy members have served at St John the Evangelist. Some of them include:
- Thomas Helmore (1873-1874): He was well-known for his knowledge of plainsong and English choral music.
- Cecil Horsley: He was vicar from 1934 to 1938. Later, he became a Bishop in Sri Lanka and Gibraltar.
- Bev Mason: He was vicar from 2005 to 2012. He later became the Bishop of Warrington.
Other notable clergy who served here:
- John Taylor Smith: He was a curate (assistant priest) at Upper Norwood from 1885 to 1890. He later became the Bishop of Sierra Leone.
- Kenneth Mackenzie: He served as a curate at St John the Evangelist from 1903 to 1905. He later became the Bishop of Brechin in Scotland.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan Evangelista (Upper Norwood) para niños
- Grade I and II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Croydon
- List of new ecclesiastical buildings by J. L. Pearson
- Oxford Movement
- Ecclesiological Society
