Diameter: 25" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Jefferies & Price 1841
Dove Bell ID: 54420 Tower ID: 20347 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Golden Hill: St John the Evangelist
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 854 530
Built in 1841 by Stanley of Shelton in a Byzantine Romanesque style. A vestry was added south of the tower in 1880, then removed and replaced by an octagonal vestry north of the tower in 1891. The spire forms a local landmark. A former school building to the north side, in keeping with the church’s own design, forms a group with the building.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay nave and chancel with west tower and spire, north-west vestry and south-west boiler house. Sacristy to south of chancel. Short sanctuary.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave and chancel 21m (69ft) x 11m (36ft), sanctuary 1.5m (5ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 330 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Between 1831 and 1851 the population of the Potteries rose from around 54,000 to over 88,000 and church provision expanded accordingly [AHP]. The mining of coal and iron led to Goldenhill’s success and expansion during the first half of the 19th century, but the area began to decline during the first half of the 20th century as collieries shut and businesses moved. Archaeological records note a possible bronze Roman statue found within 1km of the site. Also recorded is the former site of the Boston Pottery, an early 19th century pottery demolished in 1962, and the Newchapel and Goldenhill Station which was in use between 1875 and 1964.
St John’s was designed in 1841 by a local architect, Stanley of Shelton, in a Byzantine Romanesque style. The AHP report describes the building as ‘a relatively early example of the Romanesque Revival in church building’. The church has since undergone a series of changes with a vestry added south of the tower in 1880, which was then removed and replaced by an octagonal vestry north of the tower in 1891 [VCH], when the interior is understood to also have been reseated. A report in the local press in 1949 recorded extensive repairs carried out by the National Coal Board due to damage caused by subsidence - tie bars in the vestry could have been inserted at this time. Due to the extent of subterranean mining in the locality, this is not uncommon within the area and is something that structural issues continue to be attributed to. In 1981 the east end was reordered (recorded by mounted certificate) resulting in the removal of choir stalls and the insertion of a new altar platform. Meanwhile the churchyard has been extended several times.
The former school which sits within the curtilage of the listed church was built in 1884 and rebuilt after fire in 1895. It was enlarged in 1904 [VCH].
The archaeological potential of the site is low. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot.
Exterior Description
St John’s is a dark brick building, with its tower and stone broach spire located at the west end, away from the road and approach. Nevertheless the feature has some streetscape presence. The Norman design influence is realised in the adoption of a chevron motif and round-arched openings. Similar design motifs are repeated in the design of the adjacent school.
The brick has a slightly glazed finish. The north and south elevations are pierced by tall round-headed windows with engaged stone shafts and cushion capitals set within a moulded brick window surround of three orders. Once established this systems is used for window and door openings throughout the building, other than the later vestry. A continuous brick chevron band navigates the building above the windows, and a zig-zag stone course beneath them, broken by tall buttresses situated between each bay. A lower stone band marks a plinth. All windows have been covered with polycarbonate which has clouded. At eaves level is a raised exaggerated brick chevron band, described by Pevsner as a ‘triangular Lombard frieze’. Angle buttresses are placed at each corner, as well as stone kneelers.
The gabled east end has a 4-light lancet window beneath intersecting brick pointed arches with stone pilasters. The gabled Sacristy in the south-east corner has a round-arched door with steps up to it in the west face, as elsewhere, set within a moulded brick surround.
At the west end, the tower has a round-arched west doorway, not in use, with thick stone shafts carrying a moulded brick arch with stone steps leading up to it. The tower contains a bell and a clock (war memorial) with faces on each side. Paired round-headed windows in the north, west and south sides follow the form already described. Their glass has been replaced with vandaglass. Above them are single louvred openings again structured in the same manner.
Between the tower and the porch in the north-west corner is a flat roofed octagonal vestry, a later addition and more simply adorned, with plain arched window openings. To its east the gabled porch has chunky stone kneelers. Stone steps lead up to the wooden doors again set between stone shafts with capitals within a series of recessing orders of brick.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 5-bay nave
Chancel
19th century
Tower (component)
19th century west
Spire
19th century
Vestry
19th century north-west
Boiler Room
19th century south west
Sacristy
19th century south of chancel
Sanctuary
19th century short
Building Materials
Brick
19th century glazed / vitreous
Stone
19th century details
Slate
19th century roofs
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is a relatively simple, open, space with much evidence of the need for repair and redecoration. It is accessed through the north-west porch, and enters the church beneath the west gallery with the font positioned close to the door. The floor is paved with ceramic herringbone tiles and interspersed with iron grilles. A vestry in the north-west corner is used mainly for storage including that of the lawn mower. The gallery is accessed through a round-arched door in the centre of the ground floor west wall which opens onto the stone tower stairway. The gallery is supported by two cast iron columns and the wooden frontal is painted blue and yellow. It holds the organ and has fixed tiered pine pews to either side of it. In the wall above are two round windows.
The nave is seated with fixed pine pews on raised platforms (reseated 1891), with deep hollows beneath. Carpet has been laid along the central aisle. The walls are plastered and painted yellow to the height of the sills. Tall round-headed windows above them bring light into the building. Further light has until recently been supplied from clustered pendant lights. The nave is ceiled by a timber truss roof, with additional intersecting gothic arch details, with painted boards behind. Heating pipes follow the platforms and walls at ground floor level.
Towards the east end of the building, still within the main space, a carpeted floor has been inserted marking the chancel area, which rises by two wooden steps throughout its depth. Altars have been set up in both the north-east and south-east corners. A small sacristy, with external door, can be accessed to the south. A simple unmoulded pointed arch in the east wall leads to the shallow sanctuary which has a panelled east wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th / 20th century Simple oak table with open tracery; basic table in north-east corner; in the south-east corner a table on lions feet with concave sides painted blue with gilding, installed c 1980?
Reredos
20th century oak panelled east end, inscribed 1930, triptych style reredos in front with central crucifix and gilded wings with cherub decoration
Pulpit
20th century octagonal oak pulpit with carved figures, positioned on pedestal with steps, inscription around base records gift to incumbent 1911-17
Lectern
20th century oak eagle lectern, a WWI memorial
Font (component)
19th century circular stone font with flat wooden cover
Rail
20th century simple modern wood rails at chancel step, 1991?
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century Glass largely plain, some with coloured circles and recent inscriptions. Three stained glass windows in nave (1 north – Good Shepherd, c.1917 and 2 south - David, c.1905 and Abraham giving tithes to Melchezedak, c.1896) form a series.
Organ (component)
20th century IIP by Reeves and Merner with hand pump, plaque suggests c 1924
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 854 530
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.
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
Sources
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