St John the Baptist's Church, Knutsford

Coordinates: 53°18′12″N 2°22′25″W / 53.3034°N 2.3735°W / 53.3034; -2.3735
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

St John the Baptist Church, Knutsford
Style
Neoclassical
Completed1879
Construction cost£4,000
(equivalent to £860,000 in 2023)
Specifications
Capacity525
MaterialsBrick with stone dressings
Slate roof
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseChester
ArchdeaconryMacclesfield
DeaneryKnutsford
ParishSt John the Baptist, Knutsford
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Revd Nigel Atkinson, The Revd Tom Hollingsbee
Deacon(s)Revd Helen Eccles
Laity
Reader(s)Thain Flowers (Emeritus)
Churchwarden(s)Elaine Tamkin and Andy Worth
Youth ministry coordinatorGareth Davies

St John the Baptist's Church is in the town of

Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Knutsford. Its benefice is combined with that of St John the Evangelist, Toft.[2]

History

Knutsford was a

Act of Parliament was obtained for it to become a distinct parish.[3] The church was built between 1741 and 1744 at a cost of £4,000 (equivalent to £860,000 in 2023),[4] the architect being J. Garlive. In 1879 the apsidal chancel was extended and reordered by Alfred Darbyshire.[5]

St John's is within the

Conservative Evangelical tradition of the Church of England, and it has passed resolutions to uphold the teaching of Scripture and Catholic Order with regard to the ordained ministry. St Johns stands within the mainstream of Christian thinking as it has been understood from the beginning.[6]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is built in

balustraded panels. At the southwest is a doorway in a pedimented case with a rusticated architrave and a round-arched inner door. There is a similar doorway at the northwest.[1]

Interior

The nave has a classical

John Taylor Ltd in 1996.[9] The parish registers begin in 1581.[3]

In 2014 reordering works to the interior were completed, designed by architects Graham Holland Associates. This involved the removal of the late-Victorian pews, and the installation of an oak floor, and glazed screens between the narthex and nave and at the three external doors. Four of the Victorian stained glass windows were relocated onto the Church Hill facade, while the two rows of windows in the aisles were replaced in a clear leaded Georgian design.

External features

In the churchyard is a stone sundial probably dating from the late 18th century. It consists of a baluster-like pedestal on circular plinth. It is listed at Grade II.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Historic England, "Church of St John the Baptist, Knutsford (1388414)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 August 2012
  2. ^ Knutsford, St John the Baptist, Church of England, retrieved 13 October 2009
  3. ^ a b c d Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches, London: Batsford, pp. 195–197
  4. ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", MeasuringWorth, retrieved 7 May 2024
  5. ^
  6. ^ "Christmas 2016 Newsletter" (PDF), bishopofmaidstone.org, December 2016, retrieved 1 January 2017
  7. ISSN 0141-8696
  8. ^ Knutsford St John the Baptist, British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 10 August 2008
  9. ^ Knutsford S John Bapt, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 10 August 2008
  10. ^ Historic England, "Sundial in churchyard to southwest of Church of St John the Baptist, Knutsford (1388325)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 4 August 2012

External links