St John's Church

The Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist (also known as St John's Church) is the parish church of the village of Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, England.[1][2] It is a grade II* listed building.[3]

History

The church dates from the 12th century,[3] and around 1160 priests were recorded.[4] In the early 13th century the tower was added to the small aisled church which had been built in the 12th.[3] The church was associated with Barnwell Priory until the dissolution of the monasteries.[4]

The condition of the church deteriorated in the 17th and 18th centuries and attendances fell.[4] The tower and spire were replaced after collapse in 1821.[3] Restoration and rebuilding of the chancel was undertaken in 1848,[4] and it underwent a Victorian restoration by W.M. Fawcett in 1871,[5] and John Ladds in 1878.[4]

In 2018 an event, entitled Waterbeach Thread[ed], was held in the church using a variety of clothing and textiles to "draw attention to the impact of clothing on the environment, human trafficking, church life, poverty, and consumerism".[6]

The parish is within the Diocese of Ely.[7]

Architecture

The limestone building has lead and tiled roofs. It has a chancel and three-bay aisle. The tower has a parapet and is supported by buttresses.[3] In the tower are five bells. The tenor bell is tuned to G# and weighs 7cwt.[8]

This church contains an electric pipe organ.[9] The Caen stone pulpit is inlaid with mosaics.[10]

In the churchyard is a stone cross which acts as a memorial to those from Waterbreach who perished in World War I and World War II.[11] It also contains 25 war graves related to the nearby RAF Waterbeach.[12]

References

  1. ^ Cheason, Denis (1986). A short guide to the parish church of St John the evangelist, Waterbeach, in the county of Cambridgeshire. Waterbeach: The Church.
  2. ^ Wright, A. P. M.; Lewis, C. P. (1989). A history of the county of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely, Vol 9: Chesterton, Northstowe, and Papworth hundreds. Published for University of London Institute of Historical Research by Oxford University Press.
  3. ^ a b c d e Historic England. "Church of St John (1127366)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Waterbeach: Church Pages 257-262 A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 9, Chesterton, Northstowe, and Papworth Hundreds". British History Online. Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. ^ "St. John The Evangelist Church, Waterbeach, England, 1871". The Building News. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. ^ Williams, Hattie (2 February 2018). "Church draped in textiles to push mission and strengthen community ties". Church Times. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  7. ^ "St John the Evangelist". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  8. ^ "St John the Evangelist, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire". Ely District of the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Cambridgeshire Waterbeach, St. John [N03086]". The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) V2.20. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  10. ^ "St John the Evangelist, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire". Martin Nicholson's Cemetery Project. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Waterbreach". War Memorials Online. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Waterbeach Cemetery & Church". Biker Veterans Rides of Remembrance. Retrieved 12 March 2020.

External links

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