Church in Cheshire, England
St John the Baptist Church, Hartford St John the Baptist Church, Hartford, from the southeast
St John the Baptist Church, Hartford
Location in Cheshire
53°14′45″N 2°32′39″W / 53.2458°N 2.5441°W / 53.2458; -2.5441 OS grid reference SJ 638,722 Location Hartford , Cheshire Country England Denomination Anglican Churchmanship Conservative Evangelical Website St John, Hartford Status Parish church Founded 1824 Dedication St John the Baptist Consecrated 24 June 1875 Functional status Active Heritage designation Grade II Designated 18 July 1986 Architect(s) John Douglas Architectural type Church Style Gothic Revival Groundbreaking 29 October 1873 Construction cost £12,508 (£1.79 million in 2024) Materials Buff and red sandstone , red tile roof Province York Diocese Chester Archdeaconry Chester Deanery Middlewich Parish St John, Hartford Vicar(s) Rev Mike Smith Curate(s) Rev James Doo Minister(s) Rev Jon Teasdale Reader(s) David Charlton Jeremy Hunns Churchwarden(s) Danny Greaves Charles Hayward
St John the Baptist Church , is in the village of Hartford , Cheshire , England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building ,[ 1] and is the Anglican parish church of Hartford and Greenbank.[ 2] It is in the diocese of Chester , the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.[ 3]
The first church on the site was consecrated in 1824. Following this the population grew and the church became too small. In 1873 it was decided that a new and larger church was needed. The new church was designed by John Douglas . The foundation stone was laid on 29 October 1873. The new church was consecrated by William Jacobson , Bishop of Chester , on 24 June 1875. At this time, the church consisted of the chancel and nave with its porches and the foundations of the tower. The tower, also designed by John Douglas, was then added and this was dedicated by William Stubbs , Bishop of Chester, on 14 April 1887. On 20 June 1897 a ring of six bells was dedicated . The total cost of the church was £12,508 (£1.79 million in 2023).[ 4] In the 1920s a choir vestry was added to the east wall. In 1990 the church pipe organ was replaced by an electronic organ. In 1993 the roof was refurbished and during the following year the pews were replaced by chairs.[ 5] In 1997–98 an extension was added to the west end of the church to provide extra seating, toilets and a kitchen.[ 6]
The church is built in buff sandstone with red sandstone dressings and a red tile roof. Its plan consists of a five-bay nave with a clerestory , north and south aisles , a two-bay chancel with a vestry to the south and a chapel to the north, north and south porches and a west tower. The tower is in four stages with a stair turret at the southwest corner which rises higher than the tower. The parapet is embattled .[ 1] The tower is around 70 feet (21 m) high.[ 7]
Internally the plaster and wooden reredos depicts the Last Supper in a Gothic gilded setting.[ 1] The authors of the Buildings of England series describe the interior as being "altogether interesting, with a primitive look", commenting in particular that the two sides of the chancel are different.[ 8] The main entrance to the church is now through the west extension to the church.[ 7]
The churchyard contains ten war graves of service personnel, three of World War I and seven of World War II .[ 9]
The church continues to be an active parish church in the Evangelical tradition,[ 2] and regular services are held.[ 10] In addition to Sunday services, the church has a busy mid-week programme and runs a wide variety of groups, cafes and community activities.[ 11] In October 2009 work started to demolish and replace the church hall. It was replaced by St John's Church Centre, which opened in November 2010.[ 12] The Church Centre is primarily used for church activities, but is also in frequent use by community and other groups.[ 13]
The parish is within the conservative evangelical tradition of the Church of England, and it has passed resolutions to reject the ordination of women as presbyters (priests).[ 14] In the 1990s, its clergy included future Bishop of Ebbsfleet Rob Munro .[ 15]
^ a b c Historic England , "Church of St John, Hartford (1228363)" , National Heritage List for England , retrieved 1 August 2012 ^ a b St John's Church, Hartford , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 10 March 2008 ^ St John's Parish Church, Hartford , Church of England , retrieved 3 January 2011 ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)" , MeasuringWorth , retrieved 7 May 2024 ^ St John's Hartford – origins , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 10 March 2008 ^ St John's Hartford – the Church Extension , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 10 March 2008 ^ a b St John's Hartford – a guided tour , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 10 March 2008 ^ Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward ; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire , The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press , p. 390, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6 ^ HARTFORD (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST) CHURCHYARD , Commonwealth War Graves Commission , retrieved 3 February 2013 ^ Service Times , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 27 December 2011 ^ Church Activities at St John's , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 27 December 2011 ^ "£1.4M Hall opens at church" , Northwich Guardian , Newsquest Media Group, 6 September 2010, retrieved 3 January 2011 ^ St John's Church Centre , St John's Church, Hartford, retrieved 27 December 2011 ^ "Newsletter: Summer 2018" (PDF) , Bishop of Maidstone , August 2018, retrieved 24 October 2018 ^ Thornton, Ed (9 December 2022). "Rob Munro, next Bishop of Ebbsfleet, appointed to serve conservative Evangelicals in the C of E" . Church Times . Retrieved 7 February 2023 .
Churches in Cheshire
St Mary's Church, Acton Alderley Edge Methodist Church St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge St John the Baptist's Church, Aldford Christ Church, Alsager St Mary Magdalene's Church, Alsager St John the Evangelist's Church, Alvanley St Mark's Church, Antrobus St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn St Elizabeth's Church, Ashley St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes St Mary's Church, Astbury St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton Audlem Baptist Church St James' Church, Audlem St Oswald's Church, Backford St Michael's Church, Baddiley Christ Church, Barnton St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow St Bertoline's Church, Barthomley Holy Trinity Church, Bickerton St Wenefrede's Church, Bickley Bollington Methodist Church St John the Baptist's Church, Bollington St Oswald's Church, Bollington Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley St Paul's Church, Boughton St Oswald's Church, Brereton Brown Knowl Methodist Church St Mary's Church, Bruera St Boniface's Church, Bunbury St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Burleydam St Nicholas' Church, Burton St John's Church, Burwardsley St John the Evangelist's Church, Byley Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst Holy Trinity Chapel, Capesthorne St John the Evangelist's Church, Chelford English Presbyterian Church of Wales, Chester Chester Cathedral Christ Church, Chester Holy Trinity Church, Chester Northgate Church, Chester St Andrew's Church, Chester St Francis' Church, Chester St John the Baptist's Church, Chester St Peter's Church, Chester Church of St Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester St Michael's Church, Chester St Nicholas' Chapel, Chester St Olave's Church, Chester St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester St Werburgh's Church, Chester Welsh Presbyterian Church, Chester Zion Chapel, Chester St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley St James' Church, Christleton All Saints Church, Church Lawton St Bartholomew's Church, Church Minshull St Mary's Church, Coddington St Mary's Church, Congleton St Peter's Church, Congleton St Michael's Church, Coppenhall St John's Church, Cotebrook St Barnabas' Church, Crewe St Mary's Church, Crewe St Peter's Church, Crewe Union Street Baptist Church, Crewe St Michael and All Angels Church, Crewe Green Christ Church, Croft Christ Church, Crowton All Saints' Church, Daresbury St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham St Peter's Church, Delamere St Mary's Church, Disley St Michael's Church, Ditton St John's Church, Doddington St Mary's Church, Dodleston St Luke's Church, Dunham on the Hill Christ Church, Eaton St Mary's Church, Eccleston Christ Church, Ellesmere Port St Chad's Church, Farndon St Luke's Church, Farnworth Forest Chapel St Laurence's Church, Frodsham St James' Church, Gawsworth St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall St Luke's Church, Goostrey St Mary and All Saints' Church, Great Budworth All Saints Church, Great Saughall Baptist Chapel, Great Warford St John the Baptist's Church, Guilden Sutton St Mary's Church, Hale St Mary's Church, Halton St Mary's Church, Handbridge All Saints Church, Handley St Peter's Church, Hargrave St John's Church, Hartford All Saints Church, Harthill St Matthew's Church, Haslington St Philip's Church, Hassall Green St Paul's Church, Helsby St Thomas' Church, Henbury St John's Church, High Legh St Mary's Chapel, High Legh St Luke's Church, Holmes Chapel Church of St Mary of the Angels, Hooton St Michael's Church, Hulme Walfield Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield St James' Church, Ince St Philip's Church, Kelsall St John the Evangelist's Church, Kingsley Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford St Cross Church, Knutsford St John the Baptist's Church, Knutsford St Peter's Church, Little Budworth St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover St Luke's Church, Lower Whitley Lymm Baptist Church St Mary's Church, Lymm King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield St Alban's Church, Macclesfield St George's Church, Macclesfield St Michael's Church, Macclesfield St Paul's Church, Macclesfield St Peter's Church, Macclesfield Macclesfield United Reformed Church St Oswald's Church, Malpas St Michael's Church, Marbury St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich St Peter's Church, Minshull Vernon Minshull Vernon United Reformed Church St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley St Stephen's Church, Moulton St Mary's Church, Nantwich St Mary's and St Helen's Church, Neston St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley St Michael's Church, North Rode Holy Trinity Church, Northwich St Helen Witton Church, Northwich St Luke's Church, Oakhanger St Peter's Church, Oughtrington St Catherine's Church, Over Alderley St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover St Paul's Church, Over Tabley St Chad's Church, Over Over United Reformed Church St Thomas' Church, Parkgate St Peter's Church, Plemstall Poole Methodist Chapel St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley St George's Church, Poynton St Peter's Church, Prestbury St Mary's Church, Pulford Holy Trinity Church, Rainow St Mary's Church, Rostherne All Saints' Church, Runcorn Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn Jenkin Chapel St Mary's Church, Sandbach Sandbach Methodist Church St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandbach Heath St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway All Saints Church, Scholar Green St Edith's Church, Shocklach St Michael's Church, Shotwick All Saints Church, Siddington St John the Baptist's Church, Smallwood All Saints Chapel, Somerford St Lawrence's Church, Stoak St Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath St Matthew's Church, Stretton St Peter's Church, Swettenham St Peter's Church, Tabley St Helen's Church, Tarporley St Andrew's Church, Tarvin St Alban's Church, Tattenhall All Saints Church, Thelwall St Mary's Church, Thornton-le-Moors St John's Church, Threapwood St Mary's Church, Tilston St Jude's Church, Tilstone Fearnall St John the Evangelist's Church, Toft St Chad's Chapel, Tushingham St Chad's Church, Tushingham Holy Ascension Church, Upton-by-Chester St Leonard's Church, Warmingham Holy Trinity Church, Warrington St Alban's Church, Warrington St Elphin's Church, Warrington St John the Evangelist's Church, Warrington St Mary's Church, Warrington St Peter's Church, Waverton Methodist Church, Weaverham St Mary's Church, Weaverham Wesley Methodist Church, Chester All Saints' Church, Weston, Cheshire St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston Christ Church, Wheelock St Mary's Church, Whitegate St Ambrose Church, Widnes St Bede's Church, Widnes St Marie's Church, Widnes St Mary's Church, Widnes St Saviour's Church, Wildboarclough Christ Church, Willaston Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow St Michael's Church, Wincle St John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford St Oswald's Church, Winwick Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wistaston St Oswald's Church, Worleston St Margaret's Church, Wrenbury