St John

St John’s church is a small simple building seating approximately 70 people, built by ‘gentleman farmer’ John Layzell Green as a family chapel, flanked by two small brick lodges, one round and the other octagonal which are now residential properties. The building came into its’ own at the end of the 19th century when there was a crisis in Great Horkesley, as in 1866 the 12th century parish church which is positioned outside of the village boundary could only seat a third of its parishioners. Therefore, St John’s, being central to the village, was deemed suitable to be used as a ‘overflow’ church with services held there twice a week. In 1902 the freehold of the building was bought for the church by EBP Kelso of Horkesley Park.

The church is built of white gault bricks on three sides – the rear of the church not deemed necessary for this type of expensive brickwork is built of red bricks. It has Gothic openings, rounded corners and a high parapet. Later in the 19th century the original twin doors were blocked in and replaced by a single porch. A chancel was added in 1925, funded by Captain Barrington Kelso, RN, in memory of his 21 year old nephew and Godson Theodore Barrington Norman Leslie, Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards, who died at the battle of Belmont in South Africa.

In 1977 St John’s was extended further with the additional of the parish room, and a small kitchen and toilet.