Nominal: 729 Hz Weight: 1586 lbs Diameter: 43.25" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 2032 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Deptford: St John
Diocese of Southwark
Church, 637203
http://www.sjht.org.ukOverview
Grid reference: TQ 373 762
The church is composed of Kentish ragstone rubble with dressings of Bath stone and the roofs are slated throughout. The polygonal turret near the south west angle of the nave is capped with a stone spire. The tower is of three stages, the lowest of which is disproportionately short. It is supported by stepped angle buttresses and is crowned by a fine stone broach spire surmounted by a weather cock.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The building consists of nave with aisles, galleried along three walls, a chancel flanked by an organ chamber and vestries, and a tower with spire at the west end of the south aisle. Both the church and new vicarage stand on the same site, but a Welsh Presbyterian chapel separates the church from the hall.
Footprint of Church buildings: 835 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
St. John's was built to the designs of P.C. Hardwick who was the grandson of Thomas Hardwick and the son of the architect of the Euston Arch, Hardwick rebuilt the body of the church of St. Mary's, Lambeth, in Middle-Pointed style in 1851-2 and St. John's was built in 1864-5 to a similar early 14th century design. It was constructed through the munificence of Miss A. (later the Baroness) Burdett-Coutts but the tower and spire were not complete until 1873. The peal of bells and the northern boundary wall were added in the following year.
Exterior Description
The church is composed of Kentish ragstone rubble with dressings of Bath stone and the roofs are slated throughout. The polygonal turret near the south west angle of the nave is capped with a stone spire. The tower is of three stages, the lowest of which is disproportionately short. It is supported by stepped angle buttresses and is crowned by a fine stone broach spire surmounted by a weather cock. The steeple is lit by three tiers of lucarnes which increase in size and elaboration of detail towards the base; the corner pinnacles have been recently removed. The upper stage of the tower houses the clock face and two tall two-light louvred bell-openings which are heavily moulded with attached shafts, shaft rings, foliate capitals, hoodmoulding and a cinquefoiled circle in the head of each opening. The apex of the gable contains the emblem of St. John in a roundel. North and south aisles are covered by separate gabled roofs and the chancel is slightly lower than the nave. All roofs are steeply pitched. At the east end of the south aisle a separately gabled vestry projects at right angles.
The window tracery is generally correct and uniform, and the type, two-light, trefoil-headed, with a trefoil and two quatrefoils contained by the bifurcating mullion, is used for the majority of the aisle windows. The western light of the north aisle and the eastern lights of the south aisle are single lights, trefoil headed with another trefoil in the head. Almost all windows are hoodmoulded and most rest at cill level on a neat continuous string course.
The exterior is heavily buttressed and all principal angles are finished with angle-buttresses. The aisles are divided into bays by similar stepped buttresses and the eastern portions of the church are distinguished by the addition of gables to the step-offs.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1881-2
The west window is by Ward and Hughes, signed and dated two places, 1881 and 1882. It depicts the story of Joseph. Figures clothed in red and purples stand beneath cusped ogee canopies picked out in gold and white. It contrasts markedly with the east window and is finely and sensitively detailed. The figures stand against architecturalbackgrounds with appropriately deep blue skies.
Stained Glass
1880
The east window of the south aisle gallery is of 1880 and depicts scenes from 1 Samuel. It is in the Ward and Hughes style.
Stained Glass
The east window depicts the Agnus surrounded by seraphs and angels in the tracery lights and four parables in the main lights with the central figure of St. John. WThe window is undated but is very reminiscent of Norris and Co. in its bold colouring and the drawing of-both figures and verdant green backgrounds. The window was damaged in thevar and poorly restored in 1951.
Stained Glass
1889
The north sanctuary window was damaged and repaired but still remains a good example of the glass of Warrington and Co. As it was executed about 1889 it was presumably the work of James Warrington. It is a compelling two light composition, illustrative of the Nunc Dimmitus, and the predominant shades are purple and inky blue.
Interior
Interior Description
The overwhelming impression of the irtrior is of spaciousness and the church, reminiscentof the churches of Gilbert Scott, is handsome and fairly well proportioned.
Prominent are the contemporary west gallery and the somewhat later north and south galleries which are recessed behind the line of the five bay arcades. The side galleries are cheaply built and are supported by half trusses and purlins supported on cast iron stanchions at the front. The west gallery is supported on athree bay wooden arcade with pierced spandrels. Access to the galleries is gained by a stone staircase in the ground floor of the tower, which serves as an entrance lobby, and by a wooden stair within the north west angle of the church. The former stair opens on the gallery by way of a Caernarvon arch.
The arcades have circular capitals and abaci and the bases are octagonal with spurs and water-holding bases to the shafts. The chancel archis of two orders and a hoodmould with stops carved as winged angels. The outer order terminates in sprays of foliage, whilst the inner order is decorated with fillets and rests on kneeled responds with similar capitals and bases.
The sculptured treatment of the east wall is unusual: the centrepiece is a Decalogue painted on metal with a gold ground. This is flanked by two blank arcades of three trefoil headed lights divided by marble colonettes. The lower portion of each light is divided into two panels with diaper patterns whilst the heads contain some intricate floral carving. The Decalogue is surmounted by trefoiled arches which contain carved symbols of the Evangelists and the Sacred Monogram. The whole tripartite composition is finished by a band of ball-flower ornament.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
Octagonal, of stone, with symbols of the Evangelists in alternate panels on a central stem surrounded by marble shafts.
Pulpit
1903
Octagonal, replacing a wooden pulpit. It is decorated with trefoil headed panels and quatrefoils.
Lectern
1887
A wooden eagle lectern of 1887 is supported by flying buttresses carved as winged angels.
Stall
1903
Poppyhead choir stalls with openwork traceried panelled fronts replaced the original plainer varnished pine stalls in 1903.
Altar
1865
The Communion table is coeval with the church. It has an openwork front with angel bearers holding scrolls which is divided in to two compartments of three trefoil headed lights with trefoils above.
Clock
1873
A horizontal frame Westminster quarter-chiming clock.
Organ (object)
1901
The three manual organ by J.J. Binns of Leeds was built in 1901 and has not been modernised.
Bells
Nominal: 1476 Hz Weight: 508 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18223 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1396 Hz Weight: 549 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18224 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1230 Hz Weight: 609 lbs Diameter: 33.75" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18225 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1105 Hz Weight: 710 lbs Diameter: 31.5" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18226 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 977 Hz Weight: 777 lbs Diameter: 33.75" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18227 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 908 Hz Weight: 931 lbs Diameter: 35.5" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18228 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 805 Hz Weight: 1141 lbs Diameter: 38.75" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1874
Dove Bell ID: 18229 Tower ID: 12533 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 373 762
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.
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.