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The history of St. Johns Church A short history by A.E. Howarth. This short history is based on Dr. Ikens History 1821-1940 and A. E Howarth’s History 1940-1986A copy of these two documents can be found in the Lancashire County Records Office, Bow Lane, Preston. A copy of A. E. Howarth’s History is also deposited in Blackpool Central Library. BLACKPOOL
In the Charter of Cockersand Abbey (1250) there is a reference to “The Poole”. Again in 1415 there is a reference among the possessions of Sir William Botair to “le Pull” which subsequently became “The Poole” a reference to a swampy bog with a pool having a dark peaty bottom. In 1801, according to the official census, the population of Layton-cum-Warbreck, in which Blackpool was situated, was 473. A CHURCH FOR BLACKPOOLIncreasing population brought the need for a church. A meeting was held on August 22nd 1818 to consider this need. A year later a second meeting was held at Forshaw’s Hotel (now the Clifton Hotel), where it was decided to erect a church. The first church was built at a princely sum of £1072.0s.5d. It was built of bricks from the croft on the cliffs. It was an Episcopal Chapel as a perpetual curacy under Bispham and was dedicated to St John the Evangelist. At that time Blackpool was in the Diocese of Chester so the Church was dedicated by Dr Law the then Bishop of Chester, on July 6th 1821. The population was now 749. The first incumbent was the Revd. James Formby. In 1832 the Church was enlarged at a cost of £259.0s3d and included a new organ by Wren of Manchester. The Church was lit by lamps. On the 6inch-ordnance survey map of 1844 the Church was named as the Parish Church of Blackpool. In 1848 the Church became part of the new Diocese of Manchester. By the 1861 census the population of Blackpool was 3909. Probably because of this increase the year previous a special district was assigned by Order of Council to St. John’s which in this manner became under Lord Blanchford’s Act the “Parish Church of Blackpool”. Further improvements were made which included a new larger tower, with a clock and a ring of eight bells made by the London Stainbeck Foundry, and later a new organ. THE PRESENT CHURCHIn 1871 the census recorded Blackpool’s population as 7092. By 1875 the need for a larger Church became apparent. On September 2nd 1875 it was decided to build a new Church on the present site. The Architects Park & Sykes drew up the final design. The final service in the old Church was held on the last Sunday of March 1877. While the old Church was being demolished and the new one built, Church services were authorised to be held in the Blackpool Assembly and Concert Rooms (on the site of the present Yates’ Wine Lodge) and in the school on Bank Hey Street. The new Church was built primarily of brick, but was enhanced by a stone facing. It now being in the new Diocese of Manchester (formed in 1847) the church was consecrated on June 25th 1878 by the Bishop of Manchester Dr. Fraser. Present in the congregation was the first Mayor of Blackpool, Dr. WH Cocker, along with the Town Council. The Vicar at that time was the Revd. NS Jeffrey. There was seating for 1223 of which 447 were free and the rest appropriated. The total cost of the Church was £13,675.7s.4d. From the old Church were brought: the organ, the ring of eight bells and a memorial wall tablet to Robert Banks one time Vicar of Singleton. The stained glass window you now see in the west wall above the gallery was also brought; this is the Banks Memorial Window. EARLY IMPROVEMENTS1885- the stained glass windows in the Chancel were added. The centre light was given by Dr. W H Cocker, the two lights, one on each side of the centre was given by Mrs Ecclestone, who also gave the windows in the north and south transepts. A superb addition was the reredos carving of the ‘Last Supper’ based on Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting on the wall of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Monastery, Milan. The canopy over the pulpit was added. 1915- electric light was installed. Oak choir stalls replaced the pine ones. The present organ was built and installed. It is a three manual organ and was built by the famous firm of Henry Willis and Sons at a cost of £1875, and sited in the chancel thus replacing the old one in the gallery. Special recitals were given by Herbert Ellingford, organist at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool; and by Mr. Walton of Glasgow Cathedral. It is perhaps relevant here to mention two organists: Mr. Grindrod, organist for forty years until 1895, and Frederick Herbert Wood Mus.Doc. who filled the position with distinction from 1918 until 1963. 1920- a new Chancel Screen was erected, ”In Memory of our sacred dead and all others who served the Empire in the Great War”. 1927 - St. Johns was incorporated
into the new Diocese of Blackburn.
LATER
IMPROVEMENTS 1931- a new choir vestry was built at the west end. 1936- A new Communion Table was placed in the Chancel and the reredos was placed above it. A new Sanctuary Rail and Oak panelling on the Chancel walls was also added 1939-1945 WAR During the war the Church was blacked out, enabling the 6.30pm service to continue. In the event of damage by enemy action, the building would be rebuilt and restored by Government funds. The internal fabric was insured by the Church for £7000 at a yearly premium of £108. The curate, the Revd. J Baverstock joined the armed forces as chaplain. The Vicar, the Revd. W. Yates was without a curate for the duration of the war. On Easter Day 1941 and on the National Day of Prayer the previous Sunday some 4000 people worshipped in the Church. In 1942 the adjoining Market and the Church jointly built an air raid shelter outside the west end of the Church. Today it has been converted by an Ecumenical Trust providing emergency shelter for the young homeless. On 16th August 1946 A victory quarter peal of Stedman triples was rung by the bellringers. THE CHAPEL 1952 -A Chapel was created in the north aisle in the memory of those who died during the 1939-45 war, and a book of Remembrance was placed there. The Chapel screen is of wrought iron painted bronze. In the same year ‘pew rents’ were abolished. 1962 – new lighting was installed in the Church. - St. John’s became part of the new Deanery of Blackpool. 1971- St. John’s celebrated 150 years since the consecration of the first Church. The Church was redecorated and a Parish Communion was celebrated on July 6th (date of the first consecration) The preacher was the Bishop of Burnley. A buffet supper followed. 1979 -The Church celebrated 100 years since the consecration of the present Church with a Service of Christian Unity on June 25th when other town centre churches joined in the service. THE RE-ORDERING AND RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH In December 1982 discussions were begun to e-order the interior of the Church and do some restoration work. In November 1983 the Parochial Church Council decided by a majority decision that the firm of “Building Design Partnership” should draw up a design to this end. The final plan was submitted in January 1985 and in June an application for a faculty to proceed was lodged with the Chancellor of the Diocese. As there were some objectors to the plans, the Chancellor held a consistory Court in St. John’s Church on January 30th and 31st 1986. The Chancellor’s judgement was received in March 1986. As a result of this the following work was done: - A new screen erected at the west end of the Church thus enlarging the rear end room. This was carpeted. - A small room, now named “The Joan Pearson Room” was created at the south west end. - Toilets, new kitchen and serving hatch, and a new choir vestry were built in the north west of the church. - The Chapel was re-ordered to arrange all the Military Memorials on the north wall, with the Civilian Memorials and the Book of Remembrance, located at it’s west end, along with some of the wrought iron gates. - Repairs have been done to the roof and also the Tower. The lower stained glass windows have been protected on the outside. - New main entrance doors have now replaced the old rotating door. OTHER NOTABLE SERVICES 1971- The Funeral Service of Police Superintendent G. Richardson who was shot and killed in the line of duty. 1976- May 30th – a Civic Service was held in the presence of the Mayor of Blackpool and other dignitaries to commemorate the Centenary of the Borough of Blackpool. The Very Revd. Lawrence Jackson, Provost of Blackburn Cathedral preached and the choir sang Benjamin Britten’s ‘Te Deum’. 1978-May 30th – the Television programme ‘ Songs of Praise’ was held in the Church in which Canon Bryan Green and Anna Raeburn participated. 1979- In the presence of many naval personnel a service to commemorate the life of Earl Mountbatten of Burma was held. 1983- A Memorial Service to two policemen and a policewoman who were drowned in a sea rescue attempt. 1994- -May 14th- A Service of Ordination to ordain six women to the office of Priest. - July 20th – the 50th Anniversary of D-Day Medal Presentation Ceremony to Veterans by representatives from Normandy. THE CHURCHYARD 1870-This site was closed by the Minister of State on the creation of the new Municipal Cemetery at Layton. 1927- 334 bodies were removed to Layton cemetery. Their names were recorded on the raised memorial stone at the east end of the ground. The Churchyard was created an “Open Space” within the meaning of the Act of 1908, the Corporation to be responsible for it’s upkeep. 1954 – some land was purchased by the Corporation to enlarge the transport embayment, and a final 8 bodies were removed to Layton Cemetery. Only two graves remain, that of Dr. W.H. Cocker, the first Mayor of Blackpool and that of the Revd. W.H. Thornber, a past vicar of St. John’s and a noted historian. These are situated outside the east end of the Church. VICARS 1821-1826 Revd. James Formby 1826-1829 Revd. G.L. Foxton 1829-1845 Revd. W.H. Thornber 1845-1853 Revd. W.T. Preedy 1853-1868 Revd. A. Jenour B.A. 1868-1915 Revd. Canon N.S. Jeffrey B.A. 1915-1932 Revd. Canon A.W.R. Little M.A. 1932-1935 Revd. J.H.Barr 1935-1958 Revd. Cannon W. Yates M.A. 1958-1973 Revd. J. C. Handley Vaughan M.A. 1974-1978 Revd. H.F. De Waal M.A. Suffragen Bishop of Thetford, January 17th 1992 1979-1996 Revd. Canon Richard Impey M.A. Th. M. (Rural Dean of Blackpool1986-1992) 1996- Revd. M.A. Manley B.A.
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