Monkhesledon: St John
Overview
Grid reference: NZ 441 381
The church of St John Monkhesleden was built in 1880 as a daughter church to the much older Monkhesleden St Mary, two miles to the south-east, which was demolished c 1966. The church is a simple example of the Early English style. The building is long and low, but some vertical emphasis provided by a short slated octagonal fleche with a spirelet on a square base, situated towards the eastern end of the nave roof.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisleless 5-bay nave and 2-bay chancel, south-east organ chamber/vestry and lean-to adjacent porch and main south-west porch.
Dimensions:
Nave 22m (70ft) by 8m (25ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
The church of St John Monkhesleden was built in 1880 as a daughter church to the much older Monkhesleden St Mary, two miles to the south-east, which was demolished c 1966. Of its two medieval bells, one came to St John’s and the other to the Chapter Library in Durham, where it is on display.
The architect is not known, but judging by its date of 1880, overall design, and various detailed features it could well have been by Charles Hodgson Fowler (1840-1910), Clerk of the Works to the Dean &. Chapter of Durham, and ‘Resident Architect’ 1864 - 1910. He was Cathedral Architect from 1885 to 1910, and was very prolific in the area.
Exterior Description
The church is a simple example of the Early English style. The building is long and low, but some vertical emphasis provided by a short slated octagonal fleche with a spirelet on a square base, situated towards the eastern end of the nave roof. This apparently does not have a bell, but there is a service bell in a housing on the west gable (the St. Mary's bell), and a sanctus bell on the gable above the chancel roof.
The nave is of five bays divided by external buttresses, with sandstone dressings to the offsets, moulded stone eaves-course and chamfered plinth offset course, and stone gable copings. The two-light windows in each bay have stone plate tracery, with chamfered brick surrounds, and moulded stone hood-moulds (leaf stops, as elsewhere) above the pointed arch heads. The south-west porch, also of red brick, is framed by angle-buttresses, and the double-chamfered stone surround to the entrance door also has a stone hood-mould.
The broad west gable of the nave has pairs of buttresses at the corners, with two cusped lancets flanking a taller two-light window with a cinquefoil light in the tracery head, the whole composition below continuous stone hood-moulds. Unfortunately, much of the external effect is lost because the window details are hidden by discoloured plastic protective sheets.
The short chancel is narrower and lower than the nave, with diagonal buttressing to its eastern corners, with a large three-light plate tracery east window, again with chamfered brick outer surround under the stone hood-mould. Externally the southern wall of the chancel is masked by the organ chamber and vestry, the vestry terminating in a south facing gable with pairs of corner buttresses and a decorative brick chimney. The north wall has a coupled lancet window with stone hood moulds.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1900
The east window has the Ascension
Stained Glass
1908
The west window of four lights depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Light of the world, the Virgin Mary, and the Last Supper. They are either by Wailes and Strang, or by Connell, all part of the Gateshead based firm.
Building Materials
Brick
Local mid-red engineering bricks, possibly from the former Shotton or Hetton Collieries
Welsh Slate
Roofs
Clay
Red clay decorative ridge tiles
Interior
Interior Description
Only the east window of the chancel has a stone hood-mould added to its internal brick containing arch. The four-centred chancel arch has a moulded stone inner order, chamfered brick outer order, and stone hood-moulds, all carried on stone corbel shafts. A slightly pointed barrel ceiling covers the chancel, following the profile of the chancel arch, while the nave has an open arch-braced roof structure carried on moulded stone corbels.
At the eastern end of the nave to the north of the chancel arch is set a crucifix approximately five feet in height, the cross in oak, and the figure white. The three steps up to the chancel are marked by a chancel screen in oak, late 19th or early 20th century, with elaborate pierced tracery to the upper panels, the cornice and pierced cresting as high as the springing of the chancel arch. Within the chancel the oak choir stalls and clergy desks are restrained, again probably early 20th-century, the only decoration being the panelling of the front desks. The ornate High Altar is the unchallenged focus of the church.
The floors are of quarry tiles throughout (mostly under red carpet), except the timber boarding under the pews.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
& Reredos, 1939
Elaborate oak High Altar and three-panel Reredos in one, all of the carving gilded and brightly coloured, the overall design suggesting that it could have been the work of G Charlewood or H Hicks, with the carving by R Hedley. Oak panelling with blind tracery flanks this along the east wall.
Pulpit
1900
Plain octagonal pitch pine pulpit with blind tracery
Lectern
1970
Plain wood
Font (object)
1882
Simple octagonal font bowl of sandstone, set on four stone shafts with scalloped capitals, with a flat oak cover.
Organ (object)
1889
The organ is a neat 2 manual and pedal instrument of 12 speaking stops, by Harrison & Harrison of Durham, built in 1889. Accordingly the organ is well designed and constructed of good materials, not a unique survivor of the genre, but of undeniable historic interest.
Rail
The communion rails are oak, with turned balusters, at least some evidently machine-turned. They were apparently transferred here from St Mary's in 1954, and though the colour and patina of the oak might suggest that they are 20th-century, closer examination suggests they may be at least in origin of the 17th or 18th-centuries, but much repaired with some parts replaced.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NZ 441 381
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
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