St John's Church, Watford
Encyclopedia
The parish church
of St John the Apostle and Evangelist, Sutton Road, Watford
lies close to the centre of this busy market town in Hertfordshire
. It is a member of the Church of England
, within the Diocese of St Albans. Throughout its history has been one of the leading anglo-catholic
churches in the south east of England
. Today it is part of the Richborough Episcopal Area, and lies in the pastoral and sacramental care of the Provincial Episcopal Visitor.
in 1871, and during this time a temporary tin church was erected in the churchyard
. With St Mary’s re-opened, the tin church was re-erected on some donated ground in Sotheron Road (now Sutton Road). On 23 November 1873 St John’s Church began.
The temporary building, with seating for 450, attracted a growing number of people, and was considered very 'High Church
' for its day - many of the things that we associate with catholic
worship were yet to come, however. The roof of the Tin Church was unfortunately not waterproof, and it was quickly apparent inside when it was raining outside! The idea of a permanent building was raised, and there followed a period of great activity to raise the necessary money. Many people were most generous - more land was given, plans were drawn up and approved and eventually the foundation stone was laid on 17 July 1891. Two years and two days later, on 19 July 1893, John Wogan Festing, Lord Bishop
of St Albans
, dedicated the fine building. It cost £11,000 to build - a huge sum in those days. In May 1904 St John's became a parish church in its own right.
Restoration work has been undertaken in the latter half of the twentieth century. The chancel
and sanctuary
were restored/cleaned in 1961. The nave
and aisles were cleaned and redecorated in memory of the first vicar
Canon James who died in 1966. Outside stonework was restored/cleaned in 1973 for the church's centenary.
built in 1911 by the London
firm of J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
. The rood screen
was designed by Sir John Ninian Comper (1864–1960). Many other gifts of fine plate silver, vestments, cope
s, stations of the cross
, crib
figures, statue of The Madonna, glass, and woodwork have been received over the years.
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St John the Apostle and Evangelist, Sutton Road, Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
lies close to the centre of this busy market town in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It is a member of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, within the Diocese of St Albans. Throughout its history has been one of the leading anglo-catholic
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
churches in the south east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Today it is part of the Richborough Episcopal Area, and lies in the pastoral and sacramental care of the Provincial Episcopal Visitor.
History
St John’s Church, Watford, dates back to 1873. The ancient parish church of St Mary’s was extensively restoredVictorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in 1871, and during this time a temporary tin church was erected in the churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
. With St Mary’s re-opened, the tin church was re-erected on some donated ground in Sotheron Road (now Sutton Road). On 23 November 1873 St John’s Church began.
The temporary building, with seating for 450, attracted a growing number of people, and was considered very 'High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
' for its day - many of the things that we associate with catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
worship were yet to come, however. The roof of the Tin Church was unfortunately not waterproof, and it was quickly apparent inside when it was raining outside! The idea of a permanent building was raised, and there followed a period of great activity to raise the necessary money. Many people were most generous - more land was given, plans were drawn up and approved and eventually the foundation stone was laid on 17 July 1891. Two years and two days later, on 19 July 1893, John Wogan Festing, Lord Bishop
Lord Bishop
"Lord Bishop" is a traditional form of address used for bishops since the Middle Ages, an era when bishops occupied the feudal rank of 'lord' by virtue of their office...
of St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, dedicated the fine building. It cost £11,000 to build - a huge sum in those days. In May 1904 St John's became a parish church in its own right.
Restoration work has been undertaken in the latter half of the twentieth century. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
were restored/cleaned in 1961. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and aisles were cleaned and redecorated in memory of the first vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
Canon James who died in 1966. Outside stonework was restored/cleaned in 1973 for the church's centenary.
Interior
St John's has a fine pipe organPipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
built in 1911 by the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
firm of J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd is a British firm of organ builders established in 1828 by Joseph William Walker in London. Walker organs were popular additions to churches during the Gothic Revival era of church building and restoration in Victorian Britain, and instruments built by Walker are found in...
. The rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
was designed by Sir John Ninian Comper (1864–1960). Many other gifts of fine plate silver, vestments, cope
Cope
The cope is a liturgical vestment, a very long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colour....
s, stations of the cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, crib
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
figures, statue of The Madonna, glass, and woodwork have been received over the years.
Vicars
- Rev. J.H. White – 1873-1898
- Rt. Rev. John M. Steward - 1898-1904
- Rev. Canon R.H.L. James -1904-1954
- Rev. S.J. Forrest - 1954-1961
- Rev. R. Salter - 1962-1998
- Rev. J. Cope - 1999-2007