Nominal: 774 Hz Weight: 1381 lbs Diameter: 40.5" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1946
Dove Bell ID: 59700 Tower ID: 23316 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St John Holland Park
Diocese of London
Major Parish Church, 623260
https://hollandparkbenefice.orgThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2024-11-14)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 240 797
St John’s is fine Grade 1 listed church dating mostly between 1880-1910. Cathedral-like in proportion and effect, the principal architect was Brooks, succeeded by Adkins. Much of the interior sculpture is by J E Taylerson. Highlights include: the rood screen; the paschal candlestick; the angels supporting the lighting; the reredos; the Lady Chapel and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. There is a fine collection of plate and vestments. The organ is a four manual instrument by Gern.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
The Church is generally open Monday to Thursday 10-4 for visitors. If you are making a special journey, please contact the parish office on office@hollandparkbenefice.org (020 3602 9873) to confirm. Tours can be arranged for specialist interest groups. Our principal service is at 6.30pm on Sunday evening, and is usually a Sung Mass in the catholic Anglican style for which the church was built. Everyone is welcome to join us. The nave and west end is fully accessible to wheelchair users, as is the Lady Chapel. We have an accessible toilet. We have baby changing facilities.
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave of four bays with aisles and clerestory, west apsidal baptistery with north and south porches arranged as chapels; crossing with shallow north and south transepts; chancel with apsidal sanctuary; apsidal south Lady Chapel and rectangulur north chapel with small chapel for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament beyond and a sacristy to the north-east. Below the sacristy is a storeroom and above a sacristy for the clergy. The staircase also leads to the organ chamber above the north chancel chapel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 1166 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
By James Brooks, whose first design for the church was published in Building News for November 29th 1872. Building began at the east end in 1874, although owing to various setbacks, chiefly financial, the eastern parts as far as the crossing were not completed until 1885. By 1892 the nave had been completed with the omission of a fleche which had been intended over the crossing. The west tower was not built and the west front remained as exposed brick until the present facade was added in 1909-11 to designs by J.S. Adkins who had by that time bought the practice of James Brooks and Son.
James Brooks (1825-1901) designed only about twenty-five new churches, a modest output compared with Gilbert Scott a generation earlier or his almost exact contemporary G.E. Street. St. John, Kensington, comes quite late in his career.
Exterior Description
The first part of the building to be seen, the west facade, was the last to be built. Adkins chose to provide a baptistery in the form of an octagonal projection below the west window. In the three western faces of this he placed windows at the upper level and a door in the centre face at the lower level. At the angles are slender buttresses terminating in pinnacles. To north and south are porches under gables, and beside that on the north is a calvary. Small pavilions with pyramidal roofs extend the frontage to cover the whole site, that on the north with a passageway leading to the alley alongside the north wall of the church and that to the south attached to the vicarage.
The north and south walls of the nave are seldom seen, but are pierced by large paired lancets in each bay of the aisles, of the wide proportions which Brooks liked, and with single lancets at clerestory level, the bays each being marked by arched flying buttresses of simple design which support the stone vault of the nave. On the north, Brooks provided a bold chimney stack, architecturally treated, rising from the second flying buttress and linked to the roof of the nave by a dormer-like secondary roof. There is nothing to balance this on the south.
Similarly, while the treatment of the transopts is symmetrical, each with a tall gabled wall rising to the height of the nave like a great French cathedral (and quite unlike the early churches of the Gothic Revival), there is in addition an equally large second gable on the north side, of the same height and actually slightly wider than the neighbouring transept, and this houses the organ gallery above a chapel. Against the lower part of this is placed a staircase, a stone dog-leg housed within a shallow projection roofed with stone weathering against the wall of the north chapel. This gives access at three levels to the sacristy block east of the organ chamber projection. The roof of this block has a gable of the same steep pitch as the various parts of the body of the church, with a stout chimney stack at the east end supported by a buttress which runs straight up the middle of the wall without an offset to terminate in a sharp gablet against the chimney stack.
The chancel has a tall apse, starkly semi-circular like the contemporary one at Plaistow, and this is abutted on the south side by a smaller apse which houses the sanctuary of the Lady Chapel. The larger apse has two storeys of windows, the upper larger than the lower and all in each level being connected by a continuous hood moulding shouldered each side of the windows. An ornamental ridge along the roof terminates in a slender iron cross. It only remains to mention a tiny chapel between the vestry block and the sanctuary. Its purpose was to house the Blessed Sacrament and although its position and reticence may have been dictated by ritual controversy it appears in any case to have been an afterthought.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
19th Century
The chancel apso has one light in the upper level filled with stained glass, in the centre behind the alter, representing, Christ surrounded by angels, probably by Clayton and Bell and probably dating from soon after the comption of this part of the church in 1874.
Stained Glass
At the lower level in the chancel on the north side is a single light with four small panels of Saints.
Stained Glass
In the chancel at the lower level on the south side is a single light representing St. John the Baptist, probably by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
In the Lady Chapel three of the tiny apse windows have stained glass representing St. Simeon holding the Child Christ in the centre light with The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph in the outer two lights.
Stained Glass
c.1897
North transept I: St. Joseph, by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1894
North transept II : St. George by Clayton and Bell
Stained Glass
c.1894
North aisle I : St. Polycarp and St. Stephen, by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1891
North aisle II : St. Ambrose and St. Athanasius, by Clayton and Bell
Stained Glass
c.1898
North aisle III: St. Martin and St. Basil, by Clayton and Bell
Stained Glass
c.1903
North aisle IV: St. Barnabas (c.1911 and obviously a portrait) and Christ the Saviour, both by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1894
South aisle I : St. Agnes
Stained Glass
c.1905
South aisle II : Martha and St. Elizabeth, by C.B. Kempe
Stained Glass
c.1908
South aisle III : St. Anne and St. Etheldreda, by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1914
St. Catherine and St. Cecilia by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1898
South transept I : The Virgin of the Magnificent, by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1904
South transept II : St. Lucy, c.1904, by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
c.1895
West rose window: The Virgin and Child, surrounded by twelve angels bearing text.
Stained Glass
The west windows of the two west chapels and the baptistery have numerous single lights representing Christ in various different personae
Stained Glass
c.1910
St. Saviour's Chapel has a small rose window in the east wall presenting The Polican in Her Piety
Stained Glass
c.1910
The small clerestory in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament depicts Prudence, Justion, Fortitude, and Temperance
Stained Glass
1912-1915
The south window of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament depicts St. Barnabas, Melchizedek and St. Thomas Aquinas
Interior
Interior Description
The west doorway opens into the apsidal west baptistery. Although this is a fine space, with an open timber roof supported on shafts in the corners, the most notable feature is the great west door which leads into the nave. The disposition of statues against the numerous shafts of the doorway is reminiscent of the French style although here, instead of representing saints, the figures are the Ten Wise and Foolish Virgins, dramatically displayed in flowing robes, the Foolish Virgins disconsolately surrounded by empty lamps. The capitals of the shafts above their heads, alternately large and small, are lavishly decorated with stiff-leaf carving and the arch above is of three major orders separated by three recessed orders of mouldings.
The nave is of four bays, the crossing beyond being slightly wider and separated from the nave by clustered shafts rising from the floor to the middle of the clerestory level. The other bays of the vaulted roof are supported by clusters of triple shafts supported above each nave pier by odd corbels composed of shafts jointed like bamboo stalks. The simple quadripartite vault has moulded ribs without bosses, although at the intersection in the crossing there is a small circular bell-way provided for the fleche which was never in fact erected. At the west end of the nave a gallery is provided above the west doorway, with a front of blind trefoil-headed arcading. Above this is an arch framing the west rose window. This, inspired by such examples as Chartres, has a central roundel with twelve lobes and then twelve sectors separated by straight spokes. The outermost section is composed of a series on twelve quatrefoils. It is understood that, owing to the changes of plan at the west end, there is no access to the west gallery. The windows of the clerectory are quite plain but those in the aisles are provided with shafted reveals.
The chancel is the same height and width as the nave and is separated from it by a large and elaborately carved stone screen which has not always been approved of by writers on the church. Although the screen is so substantial, it is strictly a furnishing and as such a detailed description is given below. It is enough to remark here that it has three arches, the wider central arch closed by low iron gates while the outer arches have low stone walls with reading desks at each side. Above a frieze of arches containing statues are free-stending figures standing on the top of the screen. Higher still is the rood with St. Mary and St. John. There is a loft, and access to this can be had from the organ gallery on the north side of the chancel.
There are further smaller stone screens in similar style between the transepts and the chapels lying to the east and between the chancel and these chapels, making a total of seven screens.
The chancel is four steps above the level of the nave and is floored with tiles rather than stone flags. The apse with its two tiers of shafted single lancets is most impressive, even though much of the lower tier is concealed by the elaborate rerados. The ribs of the stone vault are moulded and meet at a central boss of considerable size carved with the Pelican in Her Piety. Some of the ribs, like those which delineate the crossing, are decorated with bands of nail-head. They are supported by shafts in the angles of the apse which stand above arcading, the spandrels of which are carved with angels bearing the symbols of martyrdom, and the windows also have shafts to the rere-arches. There is a piscina in the south wall of the sanctuary. The arches opening into the north and south chapels are richly moulded and continue the design of the nave arcades. The chancel is paved with stone flags with small tiles laid diagonally at the intersections and the sanctuary is richly floored with a marble pavement and provided with marble steps.
The Lady Chapel on the south side, like the chancel, is vaulted in stone but here the ribs spring from the level of the sills of the windows round the apse, so that they are very prominent and the windows are sunk in deep recesses. The ribs are further made prominent by bands of nailhead between paired roll-mouldings. The vaults of the two rectangular bays are quadripartite in plan but with an additional rib rising from a wall shaft in the middle of the south side of each bay. The ribs of the apse meet at a central boss of drum-like shupe with a roll-moulding and nailhead round the edge and stylised foliage carved on the round underside. The floor is paved with stone flags with small tiles bearing a heraldic motif at the intersections. The chapel, like the chancel, has an elaborate reredos in the apse of markedly French character.
The chapel on the north side was furnished later than the rest of the church, having been panelled in oak in a Perpendicular style and provided with a complementary reredos in c.1920. It is architecturally simpler than the Lady Chapel, having a straight east wall and plainer quadripartite vaulting without as much nailhead along the ribs. The east wall, again an example of Brooks' uncomplicated admission of unsymmetrical features where these seen practical, has a single lancet to the right of the centre, set within a plain reveal.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1872
The high altar belongs to Brooks' original design for the chancel of 1872, with attached shafts along the front which divide it into three panels. These are printed with The Deposition flanked by The Resurrection and Doubting Thomas, by N.H.J. Westlake.
Altar
The altar in the south chapel was given by the Children of the parish in memory of the first incumbent. The carved front panel represents the Aderation of the Child Christ, possibly foreign.
Altar
c.1900
The altar in the north chapel is of oak, with three arched panels recessed in the front containing figures of Christ flanked by Saints Peter and Paul.
Reredos
The chancel reredos is a large and elaborate construction of stone which encompasses three walls of the apse. Horizontally it is divided into four tiers and vertically into three sections by octagonal turrets each with two niches containing small statues of adoring angels. The crocketted pinnacles above these are markedly French in inspiration. The lowest level has three arches behind the altar and pairs of arches each side of it. These, like the arcading to each side of the reredos, are panelled in marble with various memorial tablets affixed to the panels. This stage is surmounted by a rich cornice of still-leaf foliage and thereafter follows a second stage of arcading, this time of smaller arches, five in the back wall and three on each side. In the centre is painted a figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the rest contain painted representations of saints. The third stage consists of a series of nine roundels painted with angels bearing scrolls. Finally the fourth stage has a gabled section above the altar with a large central arched panel painted with the Agnus Dei and smaller flanking panels each containing a Saint, and then on the sides three panels of Saints each side.
Reredos
The reredos in the Lady Chapel is of stone and is similar in plan and style to that in the chancel, save that it is lower and simpler and extends round five sides of the apse. It is also even more clearly French in derivation.
Reredos
c.1920
The reredos in the north chancel chapel consists of six identical panels of blind Perpendicular tracery executed in oak.
Pulpit
The pulpit is large, octagonal of marble, against the north-east pier of the nave. It stands on a stone drum surrounded by a cluster of marble colonettes. Round the body are statues of Christ and The Four Latin Doctors under prominent canopies and the edging is of marble. Between the statues are panels of polished marble set in geometricaland traceried patterns.
Lectern
The lectern takes the form of one of a pair of ambones associated with the chancel screen.
Font (object)
Square, of green veined marble, on two octagonal steps, and has big colonettes and the corners and a central drum which is octagonal with four smaller colonettes round it. The four faces of the bowl are inset with quatrofoils of which marble carved in relief to show Baptism, Catechising, Confirmation and Communion. Rising from the corners is a wooden canopy on clustered ringed shafts with trefoiled arches under gables in each direction and a gabled roof with a cross above the intersection.
Organ (object)
1928
The organ is a large instrument of four manuals and forty-seven speaking stops rebuilt by Henry Willis in 1928. It has electro-pneumatic action and although the pipework stands on the high gallery above the south chapel the console is on the floor of the south transept.
Rail
The communion rails in the chancel are probably by Brooks, of painted deal with paired arches and quatrefoils in continuous arcading with brass capping.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 240 797
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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