St John's Church EHOD 2025

About

St John's was built in two phases starting in 1736 when the current central aisle and chancel replaced an earlier church building. The former church was demolished for a cost of £3 and the new church built for £392. 11s. 8d. The north aisle, gallery and chancel extension were added in 1862. To the left of the front door is a ministry stone crafted from one of the original steps and the entrance porch is magnificently panelled with oak. At the entrance of the main aisle are the Churchwardens’ staffs which are topped with a mitre and a crown. To the right of the main aisle are two stained glass windows, both depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. The first is the Mother’s Union ‘Jesus at home in Nazareth’ window, added in 1999 and the second is the Montgomery memorial ‘Christ blessing the children’ window added in the late 1880s. In the chancel is the pulpit which was added in 1890 and the only stained-glass window in Ireland dedicated to St Barbara, the patron saint of The Royal Artillery. This was added in 1920. Through the communion rails is the communion table on which sits an oak Church of Ireland cross. Behind this is the incredibly detailed window reflecting Jesus as ‘The Good Shepherd’. On the rear wall as you walk back towards the main door is a framed fretwork version of the Lord’s Prayer and the Queen Elizabeth II commemoration plaque. St John’s has a number of memorial plaques commemorating 71 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during both wars. In the churchyard the entrance gate was provided in 1728 and the wall which encloses the grounds was built in 1761. The oldest grave is that of Thomas Armstrong (1726) and another dating from 1737 is believed to be the final resting place of a stonemason who fell from the tower during the building of the church.