CHURCH OF ST JOHN

Overview

Location

Details

LEEDS

SE3033NW MARK LANE 714-1/76/240 (North side (off)) 26/09/63 Church of St John

GV I

Church, now redundant. 1632-34, altered 1830-38, restored 1866-68. Founded by John Harrison. Tower remodelled 1830-38 by John Clark. Restoration 1866-1868, including S porch and new vestry, by Richard Norman Shaw, with reinstatement of C17 woodwork and further restoration by Temple Moore 1890 onwards. Ashlar, grey slate roof. PLAN: west tower, nave and S aisle, chancel not clearly defined, S porch, all embattled with pinnacles. EXTERIOR: Perpendicular style. West tower: 3 stages, diagonal corner buttresses with crocketed pinnacles, 2-light W window with hoodmould, stage 1; square panel with clock face in cusped surround on W, N and S sides, stage 2; 3-light belfry openings with ogee hoodmould to stage 3. S porch: angle buttresses, pointed arch with chamfered and moulded reveals, sundial above, impost moulding carried round as sill band to 2-light side windows. Nave and aisle: 4-light flat-headed Perpendicular windows with cusped lights, dripmoulds and small arched-head lights above. 5-light traceried windows to E end, nave and aisle, and aisle W end. Added range at base of tower, N side, has 3 paired windows. INTERIOR: contains octagonal arcade piers, some partly moulded, capitals carved with acanthus leaves and ball ornament. Timber roof with tie beams and wooden corbels in form of angels and musicians, king posts, fretted and gilded pendants, moulded plaster between rafters and purlins in the form of panels of strapwork with roses, oak leaves, acorns, vines and other plants. FITTINGS: magnificent contemporary fittings; original screen across nave and aisle heavily carved: solid dado, arcading with tapered balusters with Ionic capitals, entablature over with carved frieze and large strapwork panels over 2 entrances. Pulpit with tester; pews with turned finials, cresting and carved ends. Wooden Royal Arms. 3 brass chandeliers. MONUMENT: John Harrison, 1656, a cloth merchant, the leading Leeds citizen of his day and the greatest single benefactor in the history of Leeds. Shaw's severe restoration included the addition of porch and vestry; a careful replacement of features removed in this

restoration was carried out after 1888 by Temple Moore for the Dean, John Scott. The original wood carving is thought to be the work of Francis Gunby who also worked at Temple Newsam. Undergoing repairs at time of survey. A rare Gothic survival building in Perpendicular style. For a detailed study of the church and its fittings, see Douglas and Powell. (Linstrum, D: West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture: London: 1978-: 179; Douglas, J & Powell, K: St John's Church, Leeds, A history: London).



Listing NGR: SE3024833855

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

466039

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Douglas, , Powell, , St Johns Church Leeds A History
Linstrum, D, West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture, (1978), 179

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.