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Chester, St John the Baptist Church
Travel Information and nearby accommodation
One of the finest pre-Conquest churches in England, and the most impressive Norman church in Cheshire, St John the Baptist was founded in 689 AD by AEthelred, King of Mercia, as a Saxon Minster church. AEthelred probably reused the site of a much earlier Romano-Chritian shrine or church building.
AEthelred’s 7th century church was expanded in 907 AD by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. In 973 AEdgar the Peaceful, king of all England from 959, received the submission of his sub-kings at St John’s, following his coronation at Bath. On that occasion the vassal kings reputedly rowed AEdgar across the River Dee to the church.
In 1075 St John’s was raised to the status of cathedral for the region of West Mercia. The bishopric was officially maintained at St John’s until 1102. Despite this raise in status, most subsequent bishops resided at Coventry and Lichfield, but the church remained a cathedral in name until the Reformation.
St John’s became the Collegiate Church of Chester in the 13th century, maintained by a college of secular canons. When the See of Chester was established in 1541 by Henry VIII, the first bishop established his seat at St John’s before moving it to the Abbey Church of St Werburgh, now Chester Cathedral. Also at the Reformation the east end of the church was destroyed, and much remains unrestored.
At the south east is the Chapter House, which dates to about 1300. The interior of the church is largely Norman in style, and can be dated styllistically to the early 12th century. It is one of the best examples in Britain of the transition from the Romanesque to Gothic styles of architecture. There is a four-bay nave, crossing and chancel, all Norman work, and a Norman gallery in the chancel.
There are a trio of medieval effigies in the north aisle, including a late 13th century knight in armour, a member of the Carrington family. Nearby is the tomb of Agnes de Ridley (d. 1347). On the crossing pier are remnants of a 14th century wall painting depicting St John the Baptist.
In the Lady Chapel is a notable late 17th century memorial to Diana Warburton (d. 1693). A later Warburton, Cecil, is remembered with a less grandiose memorial in the south transept.
The organ is worthy of note; it came from Westminster Abbey, where it was used for the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. It was specially made for the occasion, but later rebuilt for a move to St Johns. There are a pair of fonts in the church, one 17th century, and a much earlier 15th century one.
The church stands on a cliff outside the old city walls of Chester, overlooking the River Dee.
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist Chester, Vicar's Lane/Little St John Street, Chester,
Cheshire,
England, CH1 1SN
About Chester, St John the Baptist Church
Attraction Type: Church
Website: Chester, St John the Baptist Church
Phone: 01244 403634
Fax: 01244 403634
Location
map
OS SJ408660
Heritage Highlight: Supern 12th century Norman architecture and a history dating to the 7th century
Heritage Rating:  ?
Nearest Accommodation to Chester, St John the Baptist Church
Nearest Self Catering Cottages |
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7.5
miles from Chester, St John the Baptist Church
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Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £300 |
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12.4
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Gwern-y-Gaer, Clwyd
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Nearest Tourist
Information Centre
Chester
Tourist Information Centre
Town Hall
Northgate Street
Chester
Cheshire
England
CH1 2HJ
Tel: 01244 402 111
Fax: 01244 400 420
Email: tis@chester.gov.uk
Web: http://www.visitchester.com/
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