PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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St John the Evangelist's Church is situated in Exeter Street, Plymouth. Sutton-on-Plym is an ecclesiastical parish formed on June 3rd 1844 from the parish of Charles. The church of St John's is of stone and cost £3,000 to build. It was consecrated on June 21st 1855. The architect was Mr Benjamin Ferrey. It consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, north chapel, north-west porch and a tower on the northern side, with spire containing one bell. An additional Lady Chapel was erected on the north side in 1883 as a memorial to the son of Mr Charles Norrington. The church was restored in 1878-1882. There is an aumbry for the Blessed Sacrement and side altars in the English style. In 1920 a calvary was erected on the south side in memory of those who fell in the Great War. This was destroyed by enemy action in 1941. In 1956 the parish of St Mary the Virgin and St Mary Magdelene was incorporated into the parish of St John. After the Second World War, the houses that once lined Exeter Street and Embankment Road were demolished to make way for road widening and the Church's congregation dwindled as a consequence. Indeed, even the vicarage that stood in Brunswick Terrace was demolished. The Church was set to close down in 1971 but pressure from those residents who were left in the area pursuaded the Church authorities to keep it open and to provide a new vicarage in Alma Street. The window in the south-west wall came from the old garrison church of St Alban at Crownhill in 1979. During 2006 and 2007 the tower and spire were restored at a cost of some £183,000. Grants were awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Historic Churches Presveration Trust. The work was carried out by the Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, under the supervision of the architect, Mr Andrew Wood. St John's Mission Room The St John's Mission Room was in Parr Street and was opened before 1894.
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