Putney: St John
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 238 749
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and aisles, with tower and spire in the north-west corner; transepts, which do not project beyond the aisle walls; chancel, with chapel on the north and what is now the sacristry on the south. North of the north transept and chapel is a large and polygonal choir vestry with a short vestibule linking it to the church.
Description of Archaeology and History
The foundation stone was laid on 26th May 1858, and the church consecrated on 21st July 1859. The architect was Charles Lee. The tower and spire were completed in 1865. In 1888 the church was enlarged, with a new chancel and aisles; the architects were Lee Brothers and Pain. A vestry (presumably the choir vestry) was added in 1898. In 1910 a faculty was given to remove vestries on the south of the chancel and open arches into a new chapel; the arches remain, but walled-in following a fire to form a sacristry with a small store-room above. The south porch also was added in 1910, and the architects for all this work were Lee and Pain-Clarke. The north chancel aisle was only furnished as a chapel in 1934.
Exterior Description
The building is faced externally with ragstone, with freestone dressings and quoins. The north and south flanks of the nave and transepts are almost identical, except that in the western bay on the south side the porch projects strongly and on the north side the western bay is occupied by the tower which has a shallow projecting porch.
The big transept windows attempt, quite successfully, a touch of grandeur. They each consist of three lofty lights with attached colonettes both inside and out. Above them, in their respective gables, are elongated quatrefoils contained within vesicas. The label mouldings outside have stiff-leaf carvings over the breaks between inner and outer lights, and terminate in carved heads. Round the heads of the lights is nail-head ornament, still quite fresh and crisp.
The tower is of three stages, The lowest stage is the tallest, and encloses a north-west porch; the middle stage is the clock stage; and the belfry stage is taller, with two-light openings with two orders of colonettes.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
East window. Makes good use of the tracery. The central sexfoil at the top depicts the Agnus Dei in the context of the New Jerusalem. Below it, in the centre light, sits Christ in Majesty tanked by angels; in the outermost lights are St. Peter and St. John. In the lower tier are (conjecturally): St. Longinus; St. Mary Magdalen; St. George slaying the dragon.
Stained Glass
East window of north Chapel. The Virgin and Child in the centre light, with the shepherds in the left-hand light and Three Kings cn tha right. Below three small and attractive roundels.
Stained Glass
North transept. The Resurrection, spread dramatically over all three lights. Dark purply colours. The quatrefoil in the gable shows the Phoenix rising from the flames.
Stained Glass
South transept. The Crucifixion, also spread over the three lights.
Stained Glass
West window. The Ascension, with a fair amount of clear glass.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is unexpectedly bright. The arcades quite lofty, with drops of carved foliage depending from the hood-mould, above each pier. The piers stand on high bases and are octagonal, with moulded capitals, and above them is a transitional link with triangular chamfers leading to the convex mouldings of the two orders of each arch. The transepts arches are slightly taller, and there are no clerestory windows over them. The east and west ends of the nave are paved with stone flags. There are wooden platforms on which the pews stand - and they extend across into the aisles, with a passage-way along the outer walls. Some pews have been removed at the west, and at the east as part of the arrangements for the new nave altar and its platform.
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (object)
A three-manual electronic instrument by Compton.
Font (object)
Octagonal bowl, stem and base. The bowl and stem are panelled and busily cusped.
Pew (object)
The news are of softwood, quite ordinary, and dark stained. Those in the north aisle seem to have been added later and have poppy-head finials.
Pulpit
Five sides of a hexagon; the three front panels elaborately carved. In the centre panel the figure of an angel. Below it a small brass plaque indicating that the pulpit was a memorial to William Sanderson Wyman, who died 1902.
Screen
Black scrolly ironwork, with three tall divisions - the centre gabled and surmounted by a cross. The whole reminiscent of Skidmore's screen (now dismembered) for Salisbury cathedral.
Stall
Of oak, they have tall poppy-head finials - intermediary ones, as well as at either end - and, whereas the front stalls have conventional blank ogival tracery, the fronts of the backstalls have richly carved flowing Renaissance - inspired ornament.
Reredos
The reredos is of red and white streaky marble and tall buttresses flank a rectangular panel which contains. a representation in tiles of the Last Supper
Lectern
Brass eagle
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 238 749
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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