St John the Baptist, Hoxton
Encyclopedia
The Church of St John the Baptist, Hoxton, usually known as St John's Hoxton, is an urban Anglican
church in Hoxton
, Hackney
, a host borough of London2012.
Completed in 1826, it is the only church built to the design of Francis Edwards
, one of Sir John Soane's foremost pupils. A Georgian building in the Classical
style, St John's is a large example of a Commissioners' church
, retaining its floor plan intact as well as its galleries. The church's décor is notable (in particular its painted ceiling), executed by the prominent architect Joseph Arthur Reeve in the early 20th century. English Heritage
regards it as being one of the more visually spectacular London
church interiors.
In Victorian
London the parish's work was recognised by social campaigners, not least the philanthropist Charles Booth
, for its welfare work in a deteriorating inner-city environment. To give opportunities to the "local poor", the first vicar founded what became London's largest savings bank and St John's National Schools, which still thrive. From its popular Sunday Schools the church sent many missionaries
to Africa and Asia, among them the first Bishop of Chota Nagpur
, the Rt Revd Jabez Cornelius Whiteley
, whose father was chaplain
to the Haberdashers' Aske's Hospital School formerly located in Pitfield Street. The maternal great-great-grandfather of Kate Middleton
(now the Duchess of Cambridge), John Goldsmith, was married to Esther Jones at St John's in 1850.
A child-friendly church, St John's welcomes people from all backgrounds. It includes a multi-ethnic congregation with many young people and families and is proud of its Sunday School
. The church also provides crèche
-facilities. Hoxton War Memorial stands outside Hoxton Overground Station
in Geffrye Street.
Sunday services
are at 10.15am and 6.30pm.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Hoxton
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
, Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, a host borough of London2012.
Completed in 1826, it is the only church built to the design of Francis Edwards
Francis Edwards
Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet , commonly known as Frank Edwards, was a British Liberal Party politician....
, one of Sir John Soane's foremost pupils. A Georgian building in the Classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
style, St John's is a large example of a Commissioners' church
Commissioners' church
A Commissioners' church is an Anglican church in the United Kingdom built with money voted by Parliament as a result of the Church Building Act of 1818 and 1824. They have been given a number of titles, including Commissioners' churches, Waterloo churches and Million Act churches...
, retaining its floor plan intact as well as its galleries. The church's décor is notable (in particular its painted ceiling), executed by the prominent architect Joseph Arthur Reeve in the early 20th century. English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
regards it as being one of the more visually spectacular London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
church interiors.
In Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
London the parish's work was recognised by social campaigners, not least the philanthropist Charles Booth
Charles Booth (philanthropist)
Charles Booth was an English philanthropist and social researcher. He is most famed for his innovative work on documenting working class life in London at the end of the 19th century, work that along with that of Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree influenced government intervention against poverty in the...
, for its welfare work in a deteriorating inner-city environment. To give opportunities to the "local poor", the first vicar founded what became London's largest savings bank and St John's National Schools, which still thrive. From its popular Sunday Schools the church sent many missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Africa and Asia, among them the first Bishop of Chota Nagpur
Bishop of Chota Nagpur
The Bishop of Chota Nagpur has exercised episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Chota Nagpur of the Church of North India since 1890. The current Bishop is the Most Reverend James Terom, the Province’s Primate.-See also:*Christianity in India...
, the Rt Revd Jabez Cornelius Whiteley
Jabez Cornelius Whitley
The Right Reverend Jabez Cornelius Whitley was an Anglican author and a Bishop in India from 1890 until 1904....
, whose father was chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the Haberdashers' Aske's Hospital School formerly located in Pitfield Street. The maternal great-great-grandfather of Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge , is the wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The Duke of Cambridge is second in line to the thrones of the sixteen Commonwealth realms and, when he becomes king , she will become queen consort...
(now the Duchess of Cambridge), John Goldsmith, was married to Esther Jones at St John's in 1850.
A child-friendly church, St John's welcomes people from all backgrounds. It includes a multi-ethnic congregation with many young people and families and is proud of its Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
. The church also provides crèche
Crèche
Crèche may refer to:*Day care center, an organization of adults who take care of children in place of their parents*Nativity scene, a group of figures arranged to represent the birth of Jesus Christ...
-facilities. Hoxton War Memorial stands outside Hoxton Overground Station
Hoxton railway station
Hoxton railway station is in the Hoxton district of the London Borough of Hackney. The station is located on the Kingsland Viaduct and is served by London Overground trains on the extended East London Line, under the control of the London Rail division of Transport for London...
in Geffrye Street.
Sunday services
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
are at 10.15am and 6.30pm.