St John's Church, Penzance
{{Infobox church
|name = St John the Baptist Church, Penzance
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|image = Penzance - St John's Church (April 2020).jpg
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|caption = St John the Baptist Church, Penzance
|pushpin map = Cornwall
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|map caption = Location within Cornwall
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|location = Penzance
|country = England
|denomination = Church of England
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|website = [https://www.penleecluster.org.uk penleecluster.org.uk]
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|dedication = John the Baptist
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|consecrated date = 4 October 1881
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|heritage designation = Grade II listed{{English Heritage List entry |num=1459134 |desc= Church of St John the Baptist |grade= |accessdate=23 March 2025}}
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|architect = James Piers St Aubyn
|architectural type =
|style = Early English Gothic
|groundbreaking = 23 June 1880
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|construction cost = £6,146 {{Inflation|UK|6146|1881|r=-2|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}
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|capacity = 600 persons
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|parish = St Mary w St Paul and St John the Baptist
|archdeaconry = Cornwall
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|diocese = Truro
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St John the Baptist’s Church, Penzance is a parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in Penzance, Cornwall.{{cite book |last1=Beacham |first1=Peter |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |date=2014 |title=The Buildings of England. Cornwall |url= |location= |publisher=Yale University Press |page=427 |isbn=9780300126686 |access-date=23 March 2025}}
History
The need for a new church for Penzance was first raised by the vicar of Penzance, Revd. Prebendary Hedgeland on 22 December 1878. At that time Penzance had a population of 10,414 but only two churches, whereas Truro had a population of 11,040 with four churches.{{cite news |author= |title=Cathedral Sunday in Cornwall |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000180/18781227/037/0005 |newspaper=Royal Cornwall Gazette |location=England |date=27 December 1878 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
The site on which the church was built was given by John Jope Rogers, measuring 324 ft by 257 ft with space for later construction of a vicarage and schools. The architect was James Piers St Aubyn and the contractors appointed were Messrs Carah and Edwards, Crowan.
The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 23 June 1880{{cite news |author= |title=St John’s Penzance. Laying the Foundation Stone |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18800623/104/0005 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=23 June 1880 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} The building was constructed with stone from Castle an Dinas, St Columb Major. The external dressed stonework was done in Ham Hill stone from the quarries of Charles Trask in Somerset and the internal dressed stonework was in Doulting stone from the same quarries. The nave and aisle floors were to be laid with thin paving-tiles of three colours from the Architectural Pottery Company, Poole in Dorset, with encaustic tiles for other floor areas from Messrs Godwin of Hereford. The vestries were heated with Welsh fire lamps, and the church by Rimington’s apparatus. The font was an old one with a date of 1668 which was donated by St Mary's Church, Penzance. The church was lit by 12 gas coronas suspended from the arches of the arcades.
The church was consecrated on 4 October 1881 by the bishop of Truro, Rt. Revd. Edward White Benson.{{cite news |author= |title=Consecration of St John the Baptist, Penzance, by the Bishop of Truro |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001620/18811005/063/0002 |newspaper=Western Daily Mercury |location=England |date=5 October 1881 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
The porch was added around 1890. A statue of St John the Baptist was added in 1891.{{cite news |author= |title=St John ’s, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18910402/078/0005 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=2 April 1891 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
The choir stalls of west country oak with accommodation for 16 men and 19 boys and a pulpit were installed in 1900.{{cite news |author= |title=The new pulpit and stalls at St John’s Church, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19001011/024/0004 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=11 October 1900 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} The reredos of 1902{{cite news |author= |title=New reredos at St John’s Church, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19021023/120/0006 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=23 October 1902 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} and the altar of 1908 were designed by George Fellowes Prynne and constructed by H.H. Martyn of Cheltenham. The wrought-iron chancel screen and gates were added in 1905.
Stained glass
- East window 1901 by Clayton and Bell. Subject: the ascension. A memorial to Queen Victoria and the soldiers of the Second Boer War.{{cite news |author= |title=New east window at St John’s Church, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19010509/124/0007 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=9 May 1901 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
- North aisle 1901 by Charles Eamer Kempe. The Poole Memorial Window. Subjects: St Michael the Archangel and St George.{{cite news |author= |title=The Pool Memorial Window, St John’s, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19010411/139/0007 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=11 April 1901 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
- North aisle 1970 by G. Maile
- South transept 1955 by William Morris and Co in memory of Ellen Carhart Lane, Mayoress of Penzance.
Incumbents
{{div col}}
- A.L. Palmes 1882-1883{{cite news |author= |title=St John the Baptist, Penzance. The Vicar’s Farewell |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18830616/115/0007 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=16 June 1883 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} (afterwards vicar of Bodmin)
- Edward Townend 1883{{cite news |author= |title=Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002819/19220317/184/0007 |newspaper=Cornishman |location=England |date=25 October 1883 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}-1896
- T.F. Maddrell 1896-1911
- H.R. Jennings 1911-1922
- E. Vernon Shaw 1922{{cite news |author= |title=Rector of St. Mewan |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002819/19220317/184/0007 |newspaper=Cornish Guardian |location=England |date=17 March 1922 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}-1939 (Formerly Rector of St Mewan Church)
- A.G. Coombs 1939{{cite news |author= |title=New Vicar of St John’s Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19390511/086/0010 |newspaper=Cornishman |location=England |date=11 May 1939 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}-1950 (formerly vicar of St Augustine’s Church, Thorpe Bay, Essex)
- Dennis Warden Halt from 1950{{cite news |author= |title=New Penzance Vicar |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000523/19500525/005/0002 |newspaper=Cornishman |location=England |date=25 May 1950 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} (formerly vicar of Mevagissey)
{{div col end}}
Organ
A single manual and pedal organ by J.W. Walker was installed in 1883{{cite news |author= |title=St John’s Church, Penzance. Opening of an Organ |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18830113/058/0006 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=13 January 1883 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} at a cost of £220 {{Inflation|UK|220|1883|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} A second manual was provided for but not equipped with stops.
It was enlarged and improved over the years. It was rebuilt by Heard and Sons in 1902{{cite news |author= |title=New organ at St John’s Church, Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19021030/073/0004 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=30 October 1902 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} then later in 1931 by Hele{{cite news |author= |title=St John’s Church, Penzance. Reopening of Organ |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19310827/041/0003 |newspaper=Cornishman|location=England |date=27 August 1931 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} and J.W. Walker in 1966 and Lance Foy in 1990 to form a 3 manual and pedal instrument.
The specification can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.{{National Pipe Organ Register|id=K00023 |access-date=23 March 2025}}
=Organists=
- Martin Bodinner 1883 - 1884{{cite news |author= |title=Appointment |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18840124/078/0004 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=24 January 1884 |access-date=22 March 2025 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (afterwards organist of St Petroc's Church, Bodmin)
- Robert S. Airey 1884 - 1887{{cite news |author= |title=The Organist of St John’s Church |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001617/18870922/069/0005 |newspaper=The Cornish Telegraph |location=England |date=22 September 1887 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }} (afterwards organist at Romsey Abbey)
- George Sellers 1887 - 1955{{cite news |author= |title=Retirement of Mr. G. Sellers of Penzance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003586/19550407/096/0009 |newspaper=West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser |location=England |date=7 April 1955 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}
- John (Jack) Retallack