St John, Friern Barnet

St John the Evangelist is an Anglican church on Friern Barnet Road in north London. It is a late example of the Gothic Revival Style by Victorian architect John Loughborough Pearson, begun in 1890-91 and completed after his death by his son Frank Loughborough Pearson.[1]

St John, Friern Barnet
St John's, Friern Barnet Road
LocationFriern Barnet Road, London N11
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II*
Architect(s)John Loughborough Pearson
StyleGothic Revival
Administration
ParishSt John, Friern Barnet
DeaneryCentral Barnet
ArchdeaconryHampstead
Episcopal areaEdmonton
DioceseLondon
Clergy
RectorFather Paul Walmsley-McLeod
Curate(s)Father Marius Mirt
Laity
Director of musicKelvin Thomson
TreasurerAndy Beal
Churchwarden(s)Helen Edwards
Elvin Formosa
Parish administratorJanet Beal
The font
The nave

History

Originating in 1883 as a chapel-of-ease to Friern Barnet parish church it was initially a temporary iron structure on the north side of Friern Barnet Road and known as the school-church of St John, on account of classes being kept there by the Friern Barnet Grammar School.[2]

In 1890 it was replaced by an iron nave on the opposite side of the road on land granted to the Anglican Church Board by G. K. Smith,[3] who, with his son Charles William Smith, contributed substantially towards building costs.[2]

Although the chancel was consecrated in October 1892 by the Bishop of London Frederick Temple DD,[4] building was delayed by a lack of funds, the nave being built in two stages and finally consecrated in 1911.[2] Building of the eastern section was executed by Edward Abley of Salisbury.[5]

Architecture

The church is crafted entirely of stone to an elaborate plan and modelled on a Rhineland chapel. The east end was inspired by the German Cistercian church of Heisterbach on the request of the vicar, the Reverend Frederick Hall, who had formerly been curate at St. Augustine's, Kilburn, another of Pearson's celebrated works.[1]

The church comprises an apsidal chancel with ambulatory and south chapel, two north vestries, an aisled and clerestoreyed nave, and a western narthex or baptistery of one bay. In an early Gothic style, it is vaulted throughout and originally seated 500. The nave was completed over 1899–1901. The west end being finished to only a modified design in 1911. The projected north-east tower and spire were not built.

The pulpit dates to c. 1920. The stained-glass panels are by specialist firm Clayton and Bell - the east windows depicting the adoration of the lamb, the south picturing angels, bishops and St Paul preaching, and the north Protestant worthies. The chancel windows are also a memorial to the Reverend Prebendary Frederick Hall,[6] rector of Friern Barnet, by whom the building was commissioned.[1] A depiction of the architect, Pearson, with a scroll of the plans, is included.[7]

The church has since been afforded Grade II* architectural status[8] by the English Heritage foundation, by which it is deemed a building of particular (national) importance and one of more than special interest.[9]

Current status

The church now serves as the parish church of Friern Barnet, the former parish church of St James the Great in Friern Barnet Lane now being leased to the local Greek Orthodox community.[10] The church has long been linked to local education; there has been a St John's school in Friern Barnet since 1886,[11] now (as of 2015) St John's CofE Primary School[12]

Curates

List of curates:[4]

  • 1884-87 Robert Bettison Barber AKC
  • 1887-89 Bernard Day Douglas Shaw AKC
  • 1889-92 Frederick Voight

After which time the rector of Friern Barnet resumed charge. The Rev Frederick Hall was rector from 1892 to 1902, and his son the Rev Edward Gage Hall from 1902 to 1940.[13] The Rev'd John Trillo was rector during the 1950s.

References and sources
References
  1. The Buildings of England - London 4: North, Bridget Cherry & Nicolaus Pevsner, 1998; p. 131
  2. "Friern Barnet: Churches", in: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate, 1980; pp. 29-32, Available from www.british-history.ac.uk
  3. London Gazette, 11 May 1888 http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/25815/pages/2705
  4. Novum Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense, Rev George Hennessy [Curate of St Peter’s Muswell Hill (Chapel of Ease to Friern Barnet)], 1898; p. 159
  5. National Archive Files DRO/012/II/B/1/13 & DRO/012/II/B/1/14 Agreements (1890 & 1891)
  6. Kelly's Directory of Middlesex, 1914; p. 181: http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?fn=00003ag0.tif&dn=BCL8016tif&zoom=s
  7. "Friern Barnet & District Local History Society" retrieved from http://www.zyworld.com/friernbarnet/home.htm, 25 February 2009
  8. "Friern Barnet & District Local History Society" retrieved from http://www.zyworld.com/friernbarnet/home.htm, 25 February 2009 & Listed Buildings of Barnet "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Listed Buildings". English Heritage. 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  10. "St James the Great, Friern Barnet" on "A Church Near You", Church of England website, http://www.achurchnearyou.com/friern-barnet-st-james/
  11. "Friern Barnet: Education" at British History Online, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol6/pp33-36
  12. St John's CofE Primary School official website, http://webfronter.com/barnet/sjn11/index.shtml
  13. "Friern Barnet: Churches", A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate, 1980 Available from www.british-history.ac.uk
Sources
  • National Archives: Saint James the Great, Friern Barnet DRO/012/I/G8

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