Diameter: 26.38" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1878
Dove Bell ID: 60594 Tower ID: 23785 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Stillington: St John the Divine
Overview
Grid reference: NZ 377 236
The church is clearly intended to be seen from the south (where the nearest road runs), and it is on this side that the main features are grouped. The body of the church is fairly straightforward, with nave and chancel under one roof. It is in the lancet style with two small lancets in each bay of the south aisle and two slightly longer in each bay of the clerestory above.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave of four bays with south aisle and porch; chancel with south transeptal vestry with organ chamber above and bell-tower.
Footprint of Church buildings: 359 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was designed by J.W. Alexander and Henman of Stockton and Middlesborough, whose designs when submitted to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners were commended by Ewan Christian. The builders were Boyd and Harwood of Manfield, Darlington. The foundation stone was laid on 23 June 1874 and the church was consecrated in the last week of June 1880. It cost £2,800. The parish was formed from Grindon and Redmarshall in 1878.
Exterior Description
The church is clearly intended to be seen from the south (where the nearest road runs), and it is on this side that the main features are grouped. The body of the church is fairly straightforward, with nave and chancel under one roof. It is in the lancet style with two small lancets in each bay of the south aisle and two slightly longer in each bay of the clerestory above. The west wall, which is dignified enough to be reminiscent of Pearson, has three large lancets and the north wall is provided with single lancets between buttresses whose steep shoulders emphasise the sheer height of this wall. An arch in the north wall of the chancel suggests that the original plans may have provided for a north transept. The east window consists of five lancets and two roundels under one arch.
It is, however, on the south side that the interest of the church lies. Towards the west end of the south aisle there is a porch under a gabled roof with an entrance arch of three receding chamfered orders of brick. Projecting from the south side of the chancel and abutting the east end of the aisle is a transeptal projection which houses the vestry below and organ chamber above. The vestry is lit by two small lancets like those in the aisle and the organ chamber by a six-petalled rose window in the gable. Access to the upper chamber is by a staircase within a square tower of slender proportions at the south-west corner against which abuts the vestry porch, simply an arched doorway within a considerable thickening of the wall under a slope of stone weathering. This serves visually to buttress the lower part of the tower. The upper part of the tower, which begins at about the level of the adjoining gable, broadens a little on six courses of advancing brickwork and then has a timber louvred superstructure capped by a tall slated pyramidal spire.
Interior
Interior Description
Just as nave and chancel are under one roof externally, so inside the chancel arch is so reticent as to give the impression of one room. The arcade to the south aisle is of four bays with arches carried on round and octagonal piers alternately with foliate stone capitals. At the responds there are smaller semi-cylindrical shafts. The single lancets in the north wall are characterised by steeply sloping sills of exposed brickwork, and all the windows have surrounds of exposed brick. The roof timbers are supported of pilasters of brick rather than colonettes, and the whole building shows a sympathetic use of this material with a minimal use of stone (e.g. for the piers of the arcade the colonettes of the chancel arch and the apex of the south transept gable). The alleys are paved with stone, the pews being placed above wooden boards, and the chancel floor, which is one step above that of the nave, is of composite material. The collars at each bay of the roof have prominent braces and the pattern is doubled to suggest a chancel arch. The chancel is lit principally by the clear-glazed group of the five lancets in the east wall but there are also single lancets in the side walls. On the south a large arch to the transept is closed off by a screen in the lower part to form the vestry, and the organ stands at the front of the gallery above.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is of pine with open arches along the front; by Jones and Willis, who furnished the church.
Reredos
The reredos consists of arcading under the east window with seven arches grouped 2-3-2, each with marble colonettes, foliate capitals and trefoiled outline ornamented with dog-tooth. The arches enclose paintings of Christ, Moses, St. Paul and the Four Evangelists.
Pulpit
c.1880
The pulpit is of pine, an open circular design with turned baluster uprights of unusual form which must have been designed by the architects.
Lectern
1918
The lectern is a brass eagle.
Font (object)
The font has a round bowl carved with a text and supported on four colonettes.
Organ (object)
The organ is a small two-manual instrument by Harrison and Harrison.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: NZ 377 236
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
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