St John the Baptist

Begun in 1880, and completed around 1910, this is Brooks masterpiece, and his only stone built church. Comprising narthex, nave and aisles, transept, north and south (lady) Chapels and chancels, this is a cathedral style church.

This dramatic and inspiring Grade I cathedral church is an acknowledged masterpiece by James Brooks (1825-1901), a major and prolific Victorian architect. Based on the c12th plain Cistercian model, it was developed incrementally 1885-1916 for a more elaborate expression of theology through ritual.

The stone church was begun in the mid 1880s and the chancel completed by 1885. Construction continued westward for a further 25 years and ended with the completion of the west front in 1910. Its restricted period of development; thanks to the firm hand of the first two Anglo Catholic incumbents 1869-1916; and the generosity and dedication of the parishioners, ensured throughout a unity of concept and high quality of design and execution.

For these reasons St John’s is a distinguished and integrated time capsule of the Anglo Catholic movement doctrine and practice. It is still regularly in use for that traditional form of worship.