Weight: 112 lbs Diameter: 18.63" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 52160 Tower ID: 19057 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Chapeltown: St John the Baptist
Diocese of Sheffield
Church, 635123
http://www.stjohnschap.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: SK 351 965
The small town of Chapeltown is located some 5 miles to the north of Sheffield in the heart of the mining and steel country of South Yorkshire. The parish church of St John the Baptist is part of a stylistically homogenous ensemble of mid-19th century ecclesiastical and school buildings at the junction of Lane End and Housley Park Road, within the north-eastern fringe of the town. The church was built in 1860 to a design by the respected local architects Weightman and Hadfield. The chancel and Lady chapel were added in 1900 by W J Sykes.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
4-bay aisled nave, lower 2-bay chancel and 1-bay Lady chapel, south-west tower, and shallow north-east vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave 22m (67 feet) x 15m (46 feet), chancel 5m x 5m.
Footprint of Church buildings: 521 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1860 to a design by the respected local architects Weightman and Hadfield. The chancel and Lady chapel were added in 1900 by W J Sykes. The name “Chapeltown” has no connection with this church, but refers to a now vanished medieval Chapel-of-Ease to the major parish church of St Mary at Ecclesfield; a Gilbert de Capella is recorded here around the year 1267. The location of this chapel is uncertain, but it is likely to have been somewhere in the town centre, and certainly not on the site of the present church, which was built on a greenfield site outside the old village. The only archaeological implications therefore arise from the presence of burials in the churchyard. The site was last used for burials in 1971, but there is a small Memorial Garden for cremations.
The building was closed in 1999 due to subsidence causing cracks in the walls to appear and even some masonry to fall in the Lady chapel.
Exterior Description
The church presents a quite bold and impressive aspect as approached from the south-east. The design is asymmetrical, the three steeply pitched separate roofs of the nave and aisles and the tower steeple rising behind, framed by trees to the north and south. The golden brown sandstone of the walls contrasts strikingly with the dark slate roofs, which have corbelled kneelers, and coped gables with intermediate kneelers.
The tower is of two stages divided by a drip-course. The upper belfry stage has two-light louvred windows in each face. The lower stage has angle buttresses with two steep weatherings (the pattern throughout the building), and has a doorway giving access to an internal porch. The doorway has a pointed arch of three orders, with a pair of nook-shafts with plain moulded capitals, and a hood-mould without stops. There is a pair of small circular openings pierced with trefoils flanking the arch. The east and west walls are also pierced by narrow lancets.
The chancel and Lady chapel were added in 1900 and are slightly lower than the nave and south aisle to which they were appended. The windows have Geometric tracery; the east chancel window is a four-light, with a three-light in the east window of the Lady chapel and in the vestry (the east end of the continuous north aisle).
The older parts of the church are in the Early English style. The original windows have plate tracery pierced with trefoils, with a four-light west window in the nave, three-light aisle west windows and two-lights elsewhere. All have plain pointed hood-moulds without stops.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Unknown
Chancel east. Ressurection.
Stained Glass
Unknown
Large window in the Ladt chapel. risen Christ flanked by St George and St Alban. Above are three angels bearing banners.
The dedication reads: “To the Glory of God this window is dedicated by the women workers of the church as a memorial to 100 soldiers of the parish who died in the Great War 1914-18”.
Stained Glass
Unknown
South wall. Two small windows represent Jesus as “I am the True Vine” and “I am the Bread of Life”.
Stained Glass
Unknown
The first window at the east end of the south wall depicts Margaret of Antioch and St Margaret of Scotland. Above are cherubs. The dedication reads: “To the Glory of God and in precious memory of Margaret Marcellina Surtees born December 6th 1892 departed this life July 28th 1930”. (M M Surtees was daughter of William, Vicar of Chapeltown from 1894 to 1931).
Stained Glass
1924
The middle window of the south wall is a Nunc Dimittis window. The dedication reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George Henry Dowson for many years a warden of this church and of Mary his wife. Erected by their daughter 1924”.
Stained Glass
1924
The west window of the south aisle has Mary Magdalene (and the three Marys?). The dedication reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Edith Sykes who departed to be with Christ on June 14 1903 this window is erected by her father”: also
Martha giving clothes and food, with the dedication: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Martha Soar who departed to be with Christ October 3rd 1924”.
Stained Glass
1953
The west nave window depicts the Sacraments of Baptism (on the left) and Eucharist (on the right). Both windows include representations of the church font and altar. The five small windows at the top show the tools of the crucifixion. The dedication reads: “In Memory of Ethel Ann Barnes a devoted and life long member of this church who departed this life 20th June 1953”.
Stained Glass
1948
The north aisle west window shows the feeding of the 5,000. The three small windows at the top show: Centre: A pelican. Left: St David. Right: St Dunstan. The dedication reads: “In memory of Thomas Vivian Miles of Lane End House who died in 1929 and of his wife Elizabeth Miles who died in 1948”.
Stained Glass
Unknown
The second window from the west end of the north wall depicts the Beatitudes, with an angel above. The dedication is inscribed on a brass plate and reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George Dawson JP who died March 22nd 1908 and of Lucy Ann his wife who died Nov 17 1887 and of their son Frank who died May 3 1882 this window is dedicated by the seven surviving members of their family”.
Stained Glass
Unknown
The middle window of the north wall has the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Matthew with angel above. The dedication reads: “In loving memory of Matthew and Susanna Margretha Chambers their children Sarah Margretha Savage, Catherine Wardell Selina Marten, Eliza Parthill Ratcliffe and Thomas Chambers dedicated this window July MD.....(unreadable)... RIP”.
Stained Glass
1875
The north east corner window has the raising of Jairus’ daughter on the left and Jesus with the little children on the right. Angel above. The dedication reads: “In loving memory of Matthew Edward Chambers died March 1875 aged 33 years also of his son Edward Woodhead Pearson died October 21st 1875 aged 2 years and 4 months”.
Building Materials
Sandstone
Unknown
Yellow soft grit sandstone
Slate
Unknown
Roof
Interior
Interior Description
the church has a pleasantly muted atmosphere with its surprisingly generous dimensions and exposed stonework, suffused in coloured light from the many stained glass windows. Previous reports mentioned the clutter within the church, however much of this seems to have been removed since the building was closed, allowing appreciation of the potential space.
The aisle arcades are carried on round piers with plain moulded capitals (the western pair square), from which spring pointed arches with two orders of plain chamfers.
The pointed chancel arch has two orders of chamfers, the inner of which springs from plain moulded consoles, while the outer dies into the walls. There is an internal stepped triple louvred window above the apex of the arch. An identical arch gives access to the organ chamber, while a smaller plain arch which dies into the walls opens into the Lady chapel.
There are two steps up to the chancel from the nave, and a further step to the sanctuary. The floors are laid with quarry tiles, with the exception of the chancel which has decorated encaustic tiles. The nave and aisles have very steeply pitched scissor-beam roofs carried on plain moulded corbels, with waggon roofs in the chancel and chapel which has a boarded ceiling.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Unknown
Oak table with turned legs, given in 1974 in memory of T Richardson.
Reredos
1900
Concrete reredos, tripartite with gilded blind arcading. Early English in style. The central panel has an arcade of five pointed arches with colonettes of marble of varied colours, the central arch has an inset gilded cross with ihs symbol.
Altar
1900
Panelled chest in the lady chapel
Reredos
Unknown
Lady chapel. Oak panelling with pedimented centrepiece behind the altar, with a small gilded Last Supper inset beneath it.
Pulpit
1900
Oak, four sides of an octagon, the panels with good quality carved decoration, blind arcading with crocketed ogee arches and a plain moulded cornice. Carved inscription runs around the panels. Coved foot to a square base, on a square, stone plinth. Four teps up with a scrolled brass handrail.
Lectern
1900
Brass eagle lectern
Oak lectern carved with blind arcading
Font (object)
1860
Plain conical octagonal sandstone. Wooden hangle with four tall arms arching to a cross pinnacle
Organ (object)
1873
Large three-manual pipe organ with gilded pipes and architectural wooden case, taking up almost the whole of the east end of the north aisle. By Brindley and Foster of Sheffield
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 351 965
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.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 06/02/1979
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.