Diameter: 24" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1929
Dove Bell ID: 59915 Tower ID: 23436 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Smallbridge: St John Baptist
Overview
Grid reference: SD 913 152
St John’s was built in 1834 by the Church Commissioners with money from a Million Grant which was designated for churches in manufacturing districts. It was originally built as a Chapel of Ease to Rochdale. The architect was Lewis Vulliamy (1791-1871) of the famous clock making family. The church is a very simple structure using the Lancet style. The nave has eight narrow bays each with a single tall pointed lancet. Between each bay is a thin buttress terminating underneath the continuous hoodmould linking the lancets.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Eight bay nave, narrower chancel in single bay. Single storey vestry at the east end. Three sided gallery.
Dimensions:
28 m x 14 m (c.90ft x 45ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 453 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
St John’s was built in 1834 by the Church Commissioners with money from a Million Grant which was designated for churches in manufacturing districts. It was originally built as a Chapel of Ease to Rochdale. The architect was Lewis Vulliamy (1791-1871) of the famous clock making family. Vuillamy worked with Robert Smirke before establishing his own London practice with much success.
Vuillamy used variations of this simple Gothic preaching box design on at least three other churches. Spotland, St Clement is particularly similar and was built the year after St John’s from the same grant and is on a slightly larger scale. However Vuillamy was capable of much more and his works in London included the lavish Dorchester House on Park Lane (demolished 1929) and the Italianate church of All Saints in Ennismore Gardens, Kensington.
Exterior Description
The church is a very simple structure using the Lancet style. The nave has eight narrow bays each with a single tall pointed lancet. Between each bay is a thin buttress terminating underneath the continuous hoodmould linking the lancets. Each buttress has a weathering at the top and another where it passes through a continuous sillmould. The westernmost bay on both the north and south elevations has a shorter lancet with an arched doorway set underneath.
At either end of the nave the corner buttresses rise to meet a weathered plinth and terminate with a gablet. The pitch of the roof is shallow and hidden beyond the plinth.
The east and west ends each have a narrower projection for the sanctuary at the east end and the small bell cupola at the west. At the junction with the nave on each corner rises a thin octagonal pinnacle.
The west end elevation has three lancets, the central one raised slightly higher with an arched doorway beneath. The elevation is pitched creating a gable end with a weathered plinth. Gableted buttresses with single weatherings are positioned on either side of the gable. Low lean-to porches with entrances from the west adjoin either side of the west end against the west wall of the nave.
There is a small four-sided gabled bellcote with a clockface at the top of each small louvred lancet opening with a central finial.
The east elevation projection has the same gable end as described for the west but here there is one large window of four equal lancets with roundels under a pointed arch. The south side has a small stone shed leaning against the junction with the nave. Below the east window there is a single storey vestry with a double pitched roof creating a paired gable end. Each gable has a rectangular window and there is an external door to the south.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1857
East window. Given by Robert, Henry, Thomas and Edward Healey in memory of their parents Robert & Sarah. Four equal lights depicting various scenes from the Gospels. By Ralph Bolton Edmundson.
Stained Glass
West window. Three stepped lancets. Coloured leading pattern and large roundel at the bottom of each window. St John. Crown. Mitre.
Stained Glass
The roundel of St John is enamel painted and very good indeed. Likely also to be by Edmundson.
Building Materials
Sandstone
Coursed sandstone walls
Slate
Roofs
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside, the west door leads through a small narthex into the nave underneath the gallery. The font is positioned to the south and the area here underneath the rear two bays occupied by the gallery is screened with curtains. There are Creed and Commandment boards on the west wall. There are two recessed arches to the north and south walls of the westernmost bay which still read externally as doorways; both have been filled and painted with murals in white and blue. Doorways at either side of the west wall lead up to the stairways to the gallery. The west windows are only partially visible from the stairwells.
The gallery extends around to the chancel arch on the south side but terminates earlier on the north against the organ which was repositioned from the west gallery. The gallery is still pewed; the front has a carved blind arcade and is supported by thin painted cast iron columns. Beneath the gallery there are narrow walkways but no aisles.
The west wall has three blind pointed arches and there is access to a higher slim tier of the gallery (possibly added in 1844).
The two eastern bays of the nave have been demarcated as a chancel and there is a number of ornately carved & brattished screens dividing and partitioning the area including a Lady Chapel on the south side. The chancel is raised on three steps with a good quality marble floor which was laid in 1934. The carved screens were added at various dates in the early part of the last century but give an overall impression of a coherent scheme of woodwork. The pulpit, lectern and canopied clergy stall all add to the detail at the east end.
The wide chancel arch leads into the small sanctuary projection and is flanked on either side by a large painted scene of angels (1898); now deteriorating badly.
The roof is constructed with fine semi-ceiled king-post trusses, which have cusped arcading.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1943
Oak table built against the reredos. IHS symbol and three plain panels. Given in 1943.
Altar
Lady Chapel altar small oak with blind panels and carved tracery detail overlaid.
Reredos
1879
A copy of Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ by Ellen Cook (Vicar’s wife) in 1879.
Pulpit
1892
A heavily carved square piece with canted corners. Panels all blind with elaborate tracery overlaid. Figures positioned against each canted edge including the plinth, which also has tracery carving. Steps from the north. Given in 1892 in memory of Canon Robert Keningale Cook. The pulpit and lectern together cost £100.
Lectern
Carved oak eagle with four crocketted pinnacles connected to the central plinth.
Font (object)
Plain octagonal bowl and stem in stone.
Organ (object)
1840
Nicholson & Lord a two-manual and pedal organ originally positioned on the west gallery before it was moved in 1880 to current position north of the choir. Rebuilt in 1910 and 1960.
Rail
Wooden rail with alternating square and rectangular sections with carved pierced tracery detail.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 913 152
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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