St John the Baptist.

The History of the Church.

	Peterborough has had a Parish Church since the 11th century. The first recorded Vicar of Peterborough was William of Waterford instituted by Bishop St Hugh of Lincoln in 1229. The present St John's replaced the original Bondgate church, east of the Abbey church, because of flooding at Martin's Bridge, and since many people had moved to larger houses around the market place. Materials from the old church, and the nave of St Thomas' Chapel west of the cathedral, together with timber brought from Milton Park were used in its construction. The present church building was dedicated by Abbot Genge on the Patronal Festival, June 24th (The Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist) 1407. The sixteenth century was an eventful time for St John's. Its bells sounded for the funerals of both Katharine of Aragon (1536) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1587) in the cathedral. The church sexton, Robert Scarlett, buried both Queens, and is himself buried in the cathedral, having died in 1594 at the age of 98. The parish registers and records are deposited at the Northants Records Office, and record the baptism in 1599 of Henry Heath, one of the Forty Roman Catholic Martyrs executed in 1643.

Peterborough has had a Parish Church since the 11th century. The first recorded Vicar of Peterborough was William of Waterford instituted by Bishop St Hugh of Lincoln in 1229. The present St John's replaced the original Bondgate church, east of the Abbey church, because of flooding at Martin's Bridge, and since many people had moved to larger houses around the market place. Materials from the old church, and the nave of St Thomas' Chapel west of the cathedral, together with timber brought from Milton Park were used in its construction. The present church building was dedicated by Abbot Genge on the Patronal Festival, June 24th (The Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist) 1407.

The sixteenth century was an eventful time for St John's. Its bells sounded for the funerals of both Katharine of Aragon (1536) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1587) in the cathedral. The church sexton, Robert Scarlett, buried both Queens, and is himself buried in the cathedral, having died in 1594 at the age of 98.

The parish registers and records are deposited at the Northants Records Office, and record the baptism in 1599 of Henry Heath, one of the Forty Roman Catholic Martyrs executed in 1643.

The best known Vicar of Peterborough, Simon Gunton, faithfully entered the names of those who died from the Great Plague, which raged between 1665 and 1667. He marked each entry with an "x" to thank God for his own preservation, and appended a prayer to each page. The church tower had originally been built with a spire, but in the late 1820's this had to be removed, as the building was found to be in a very unsafe state. In 1881 a high gale blew the east pinnacle off the tower and it crashed through the aisle roof. After this disaster an extensive work of restoration was undertaken in the years 1881-3, when the interior took its present shape. Galleries which had provided seating accommodation were removed. Further renovation work took place in 1909, and in 1976-7, when the fifteenth century font was moved to its present location.

The best known Vicar of Peterborough, Simon Gunton, faithfully entered the names of those who died from the Great Plague, which raged between 1665 and 1667. He marked each entry with an "x" to thank God for his own preservation, and appended a prayer to each page.

The church tower had originally been built with a spire, but in the late 1820's this had to be removed, as the building was found to be in a very unsafe state. In 1881 a high gale blew the east pinnacle off the tower and it crashed through the aisle roof. After this disaster an extensive work of restoration was undertaken in the years 1881-3, when the interior took its present shape. Galleries which had provided seating accommodation were removed. Further renovation work took place in 1909, and in 1976-7, when the fifteenth century font was moved to its present location.

In the nineteenth century, many people came to live in Peterborough largely due to the coming of the railway. New parishes were formed to serve the growing population, but St John's remains the Peterborough Parish Church and its vicar bears the title Vicar of Peterborough. During the Second World War, the silence of the bells was only broken in celebration of the victory at El Alamein in 1942. The more recent redevelopment of the city has left the church surrounded by a modern commercial centre and a congregation drawn from a wide area. Its life flourishes around the central worship of Christ, as it has for nearly 600 years on this site.

Details of the Building.

Over the South Porch entrance is an heraldic antelope surmounting the top gable. One theory is that this is the emblem of the Lancastrian King Henry IV, who reigned 1399-1413 and who was therefore on the throne during the building of the Church. Alternatively, it may be a unique example in a public place of the heraldic antelope put there in honour of the Earl of Derby, who often resided in Peterborough. The South Porch is perhaps the finest part remaining of the original fifteenth century building. The Porch has a fine vaulted ceiling, upon which can be seen medieval stone carvings of great interest. The three carved bosses represent respectively the Trinity, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion. The North Porch on the opposite side of the church is an embattled porch, with two gargoyles, one side, beneath two of the buttresses.

Over the South Porch entrance is an heraldic antelope surmounting the top gable. One theory is that this is the emblem of the Lancastrian King Henry IV, who reigned 1399-1413 and who was therefore on the throne during the building of the Church. Alternatively, it may be a unique example in a public place of the heraldic antelope put there in honour of the Earl of Derby, who often resided in Peterborough. The South Porch is perhaps the finest part remaining of the original fifteenth century building. The Porch has a fine vaulted ceiling, upon which can be seen medieval stone carvings of great interest. The three carved bosses represent respectively the Trinity, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion.

The North Porch on the opposite side of the church is an embattled porch, with two gargoyles, one side, beneath two of the buttresses.

	The interior of the church is very much restored. This was done in the 1880's, under the direction of J L Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral. Galleries were removed and a large East Window depicting the Ascension was inserted over the high altar. The woodwork is relatively modern. The two screens separating the organ vestry and Lady Chapel area were erected in 1915, and the chancel screen dates from 1917. The rood was added to the chancel screen in 1938.

The interior of the church is very much restored. This was done in the 1880's, under the direction of J L Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral. Galleries were removed and a large East Window depicting the Ascension was inserted over the high altar.

The woodwork is relatively modern. The two screens separating the organ vestry and Lady Chapel area were erected in 1915, and the chancel screen dates from 1917. The rood was added to the chancel screen in 1938.

The Lady chapel was restored in 1923 and re-ordered in 1989. A white light is placed above the aumbry to indicate the the Blessed Sacrament is reserved here. In the Lady Chapel stands a Georgian monument to Matthew Wyldbore, who died in 1781. Wyldbore was twice elected MP for Peterborough, and is remembered in St John's because of a legacy he left to the bellringers, reputed in gratitude for finding his way safely through the mists on Peterborough Common by making for the sound of St John's bells. The window above the Lady Chapel altar depicts the Resurrection. The Church has two framed pieces of embroidery, from medieval vestments. Each piece of needlework is in the form of a cross, and seems to represent the trinity: the design may even have been copied from the central boss in the ceiling of the South Porch. These are displayed on the South aisle wall Much of the Church Plate dates from the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, but this is not kept in the church. The ring of eight bells were recast in 1675 after the Restoration, again in 1808 and rededicated in 1947 after an overhaul. The 19th century carillon was restored in 1991 though some of the tunes that it plays have yet to be identified.

The Lady chapel was restored in 1923 and re-ordered in 1989. A white light is placed above the aumbry to indicate the the Blessed Sacrament is reserved here. In the Lady Chapel stands a Georgian monument to Matthew Wyldbore, who died in 1781. Wyldbore was twice elected MP for Peterborough, and is remembered in St John's because of a legacy he left to the bellringers, reputed in gratitude for finding his way safely through the mists on Peterborough Common by making for the sound of St John's bells. The window above the Lady Chapel altar depicts the Resurrection.

The Church has two framed pieces of embroidery, from medieval vestments. Each piece of needlework is in the form of a cross, and seems to represent the trinity: the design may even have been copied from the central boss in the ceiling of the South Porch. These are displayed on the South aisle wall

Much of the Church Plate dates from the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, but this is not kept in the church.

The ring of eight bells were recast in 1675 after the Restoration, again in 1808 and rededicated in 1947 after an overhaul. The 19th century carillon was restored in 1991 though some of the tunes that it plays have yet to be identified.

	The High Altar reredos is modern. The main figures carved on it are St John the Baptist, St Peter (Patron of the diocese, and Bishop St Hugh of Lincoln and Abbot Genge, who both played parts in the history of St John's. The church has a number of stain-glass windows, mainly Victorian. The most recent, in the north aisle, was dedicated to Bishop Easthaugh in 1968: it is designed by Brian Thomas. There are several memorial tablets on the church walls, mostly of the eighteenth century date. Notable among them are the Wyldbore Memorial in the Lady Chapel, and the mural monument by John Flaxman to the Squire family, situated on the north wall to the west of the Porch.

The High Altar reredos is modern. The main figures carved on it are St John the Baptist, St Peter (Patron of the diocese, and Bishop St Hugh of Lincoln and Abbot Genge, who both played parts in the history of St John's.

The church has a number of stain-glass windows, mainly Victorian. The most recent, in the north aisle, was dedicated to Bishop Easthaugh in 1968: it is designed by Brian Thomas.

There are several memorial tablets on the church walls, mostly of the eighteenth century date. Notable among them are the Wyldbore Memorial in the Lady Chapel, and the mural monument by John Flaxman to the Squire family, situated on the north wall to the west of the Porch.

The vestment cupboard, in the north-west corner, is dated 1569. Its doors may have been an aumbry cover and it shows a Spanish Crucifixion scene in a German frame. The crucifix itself is modern, but the rest of the carving is of the sixteenth century. The west end of the church was rebuilt 1907 - 1909 when the arches supporting the tower were again opened and oak screens were erected. At this time the Charles Nicholson window "Christ in Glory" was installed above the west door. The font dates from the fifteenth century. The short panelled column which supports the octagonal bowl with its quatrefoil panels shows traces of having been shortened at some time. It was moved to its present position in 1976. One of the martyrs of the Reformation, Blessed Henry Heath, was baptised in the font in 1599.
To find out more about the history of St John's please contact our archivists, June & Vernon Bull. Click Here to email them. St John's Parish Registers and Records are held at Northants Records Office. The Peterborough City Library has microfiche copies of the registers from 1559 to the 1950s. To view or request details of Parish Records Contact: Sarah Bridges at the Northamptonshire Records Office , County Archivist, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton NN4 8BQ. Tel 0044 (0)1604 762129; fax 0044 (0)1604 767562; Email archivist@northamptonshire.gov.uk

The vestment cupboard, in the north-west corner, is dated 1569. Its doors may have been an aumbry cover and it shows a Spanish Crucifixion scene in a German frame. The crucifix itself is modern, but the rest of the carving is of the sixteenth century.

The west end of the church was rebuilt 1907 - 1909 when the arches supporting the tower were again opened and oak screens were erected. At this time the Charles Nicholson window "Christ in Glory" was installed above the west door.

The font dates from the fifteenth century. The short panelled column which supports the octagonal bowl with its quatrefoil panels shows traces of having been shortened at some time. It was moved to its present position in 1976. One of the martyrs of the Reformation, Blessed Henry Heath, was baptised in the font in 1599.

To find out more about the history of St John's please contact our archivists, June & Vernon Bull.

Click Here to email them.

St John's Parish Registers and Records are held at Northants Records Office. The Peterborough City Library has microfiche copies of the registers from 1559 to the 1950s.

To view or request details of Parish Records Contact:

Sarah Bridges at the Northamptonshire Records Office , County Archivist, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton NN4 8BQ. Tel 0044 (0)1604 762129; fax 0044 (0)1604 767562;

Email archivist@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Launched Friday 8th June 2007

The History of Peterborough Parish Church

By June and Vernon Bull

£2.50