Masbrough: St John
Overview
Grid reference: SK 419 929
By William White (1825-90), and apparently only one of two works of this architect known in the West Riding. There is but one of his works in each of the other two Ridings, and churches by him in Yorkshire therefore deserve careful consideration. This church was built in 1865. The masonry is polygonal rubble of a stone similar to Kentish ragstone, and this has blackened while the mortar between the stones remains very white, giving a chromatic effect. The tracery of all the windows is a powerful variety of geometrical plate tracery, and the slated roofs are almost black.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Four and a half bay nave with north and south aisles and porches; chancel with north and south transepts.
Description of Archaeology and History
By William White (1825-90), and apparently only one of two works of this architect known in the West Riding. There is but one of his works in each of the other two Ridings, and churches by him in Yorkshire therefore deserve careful consideration. This church was built in 1865.
Exterior Description
The masonry is polygonal rubble of a stone similar to Kentish ragstone, and this has blackened while the mortar between the stones remains very white, giving a chromatic effect. The tracery of all the windows is a powerful variety of geometrical plate tracery, and the slated roofs are almost black.
The impact of the exterior is chiefly the result of the windows and the buttresses, both of which features throughout the church have idiosyncratically powerful forms. At the south-West corner rises the bell-turret, with a buttress running up the south side which has first a gabled off-set and then two succeeding sloped off-sets. The result. is an interesting outline against the sky, and is always seen as the church is approached through the churchyard gate from the south-east of the building. The bell-turret is gabled steeply with a square opening for the bell.
Interior
Interior Description
The area of the nave taken with the aisles is almost square, with a fine open timber roof characterised by prominent cross-beams. These are carried on wall-posts which in turn rest on small corbels at the stringcourse which divides the arcade from the clerestory. The brick and stone banded arches of the arcades are carried on circular stone columns with foliated capitals and there is more carving at the terminations of the moulding which outline each arch. The nave extends a little further west than the aisles and the west wall has a large window arch containing two quite separate two-light windows separated by the central buttress which was seen outside. Internally, however, the buttress is chamfered so that it has a triangular section. The windows are of two lights with quatrefoil above, and then odd triangular shapes which make the windows seem even taller and more slender. Above the central buttress is a group of four lights arranged to form a pattern something like a four-leafed clover.
The walls have a dado of brick with a patterned frieze of crosses of blue brick set among black. Above this level, the masonry is all rock-cut, with the chisel marks carefully left visible. The walls thus have an attractively variegated texture.
The chancel arch is very wide, the mouldings dying into square responds whie! are supported in two tiny colonettes on corbels each side. Although the mouldings die thus, the brick moulding which outlines the arch does not, and continues down to a bold stop each side at roughly the level of the colonettes. Both responds of the arch are pierced at a lower level by hagioscopes with cinquefoiled heads.
The north aisle opens into the western branch of the north transept which is separated from the parallel north transept by a two-bay arcade with a screen of wood and glass within the arches. The south aisle opens into the Lady Chapel in the south transept through a screen which like much of the woodwork in the church (the panelling in the chancel and the reredos, for example) although late in date, is of very good quality and careful detailing. The chancel is more richly decorated with carved stonework than the nave, the most important pieces being found on the piers supporting the pairs of arches which open into each of the transeptal projections.
Fixtures and fittings
Panelling
Early 20th Century
The panelling on the three walls of the sanctuary is, of very high quality, with finely carved tracery in oak.
Reredos
The reredos is of three bays, with an overhanging canopy of cusped arches, the design of which is repeated against the panels of the east wall. Above is cresting, with four pinnacles.
Pulpit
20th Century
The pulpit is twentieth-century with traceried panels of oak, with many fleurons in the decoration.
Organ (object)
The organ has no maker's label, but is said to be labelled inside the swell box with the name Bevington. The date attached to it is 1851, but this seems rather too early.
Clock
Wall clock in the vestry.
Sedilia
The stone sodilia in the chancel are of two bays, the arches above beins formed of stone and dark blue bricks.
Rail
The altar rails are by George Pace, in a neo-classical style with alternately square and baluster supports.
Lectern
The lectern is of brass, the usual eagle.
Font (object)
The font is of stone painted white and marble, with floral quatrefoils in each face of the bowl.
Font (component)
The cover is an integral part of the design, octagonal and of spirical shape, suspended on a chain which runs through the dove counterweight.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 419 929
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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