St John the Baptist, Hoxton

Last updated

St John's Hoxton
St John the Baptist
with Christ Church, Hoxton
Hoxton holy trinity 1.jpg
West door of St John's Hoxton
St John the Baptist, Hoxton
Location Hoxton, London N1
CountryUnited Kingdom
Denomination Church of England
Website stjohnshoxton.org.uk
History
Founded1826
Founder(s) The Haberdashers' Company
Dedication St John the Baptist
Dedicated1826
Architecture
Architect(s) Francis Edwards
Style Neo-classical
Administration
Province Canterbury
Diocese London
Parish St John the Baptist with
Christ Church, Hoxton [1]
Clergy
Bishop(s) Sarah Mullally
(Bishop of London)
Joanne Grenfell
(Suffragan Bishop of Stepney)
Vicar(s) Graham Hunter
Curate(s) Caroline Taylor
Archdeacon Peter Farley-Moore
(Archdeacon of Hackney)

The Church of St John the Baptist, Hoxton, usually known as St John's Hoxton, is an Anglican parish church in the Hoxton area of Hackney, London N1. [2]

Contents

Nearby is Silicon Roundabout, [3] and also Aske Gardens, [4] named after the parish's major benefactor, City alderman and haberdasher Robert Aske.

St. John's Church ceiling St John the Baptist, Crondall Street, Hoxton - Ceiling (geograph 2624648).jpg
St. John's Church ceiling

Parish history

Dedicated to St John the Baptist, its name preserves the memory of a local priory dissolved by King Henry VIII. [5]

Robert Aske's legacy still benefits the parish and associated primary school, [6] while Haberdasher Street [7] like Aske Gardens, [8] remain in the memory of his original generosity. [9]

One of the 18th-century residents of Hoxton Square, [10] the Revd John Newton, composed the popular hymn "Amazing Grace". [11] Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97), the writer and philosopher, was born in Hoxton. John Mander, an organ builder, lived at Hoxton and one of his sons, Noel Mander, founded Mander Organs. [12]

"Amazing Grace"
(music pub. 1847) New Britain Southern Harmony Amazing Grace.jpg
"Amazing Grace"
(music pub. 1847)

In Victorian London the parish's work was recognised by social campaigners, such as the philanthropist Charles Booth, for its welfare work in a deteriorating inner-city environment. [13] Many members of the church [14] became missionaries in Africa and Asia, among them the first Bishop of Chota Nagpur, the Rt Revd Jabez Cornelius Whiteley, whose father, Chaplain to the Haberdashers' Aske's Hospital School formerly located in Pitfield Street [15] [16] was the Revd Edward Whiteley: to give opportunities to the "local poor", [17] the parish's first vicar founded what became London's largest savings bank [18] and St John's National Schools [19] which still thrive in India.

The maternal great-great-great-grandfather of Kate Middleton (now the Princess of Wales), John Goldsmith, was married to Esther Jones at St John's Hoxton in 1850. [20]

The present vicar, the Revd Graham Hunter, serves as an Assistant of the Haberdashers' Company and helps Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, pioneer the CofE's Health Inequalities Action Group (HIAG) bringing together faith leaders. [21]

Architecture

Completed in 1826, St John's is a Regency church in the classical style, and the only one built to the design of the celebrated architect, Francis Edwards, [22] Sir John Soane's foremost pupil. A large example of a Commissioners' church, its original floor plan remains intact as well as notable galleries and décor, [23] including a painted ceiling [24] executed in the early 20th century by the architect Joseph Arthur Reeve. [25]

Pipe organ

Built and installed in 1915 by the firm of Thomas Sidwell Jones, [26] the organ sits in the choir gallery retaining its original late-Georgian wooden case with an elaborate façade displaying the arms of William IV.

Last restored in 1934 by Henry Speechly & Son, [27] St John's organ is known to voice the following stops:

Choir
Gamba8'
Dulciana8'
Lieblich Gedackt8'
Viol d'Orchestre8'
Flute4'
Piccolo2'
Clarinet8'
Great
Bourdon16'
Open Diapason No. 18'
Open Diapason No. 28'
Clarabella8'
Dulciana8'
Principal4'
Harmonic Flute4'
Twelfth2.2/3'
Fifteenth2'
Mixture3'
Trumpet8'
Swell
Double Diapason16'
Open Diapason8'
Lieblich Gedackt8'
Salicional8'
Voix Celeste8'
Principal4'
Mixture3'
Cornopean8'
Oboe8'
Pedal
Open Diapason16'
Bourdon16'
Bass Flute8'
Coat of arms of St John the Baptist, Hoxton
Arms of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.svg
Notes
Arms and Crest of the Haberdashers' Company confirmed by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, 8 November 1570
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Azure issuing from Clouds two naked Arms embowed holding a Laurel wreath all Proper
Escutcheon
Barry wavy of six Argent and Azure on a Bend Gules a Lion passant guardant Or
Supporters
On either side a Goat of India Argent flecked Gules membered Or
Motto
"Serve and Obey"
Symbolism
Coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers:
patron of the advowson of St John the Baptist with Christ Church, Hoxton

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Hackney</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough in Inner London, England. The historical and administrative heart of Hackney is Mare Street, which lies 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Charing Cross. The borough is named after Hackney, its principal district. Southern and eastern parts of the borough are popularly regarded as being part of east London that spans some of the traditional East End of London with the northwest belonging to north London. Its population is estimated to be 281,120.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoxton</span> Neighbourhood in the East End of London, England

Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, England, and on the north-western fringes of the East End, the historic core of wider East London. It was historically in the county of Middlesex until 1889. It lies immediately north of the City of London financial district, and was once part of the civil parish and subsequent Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, prior to its incorporation into the London Borough of Hackney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoreditch</span> Human settlement in England

Shoreditch is an area in London, England and is located in the London Borough of Hackney alongside neighbouring parts of Tower Hamlets, which are also perceived as part of the area due to historic ecclesiastical links. Shoreditch lies just north-east of the border with the City of London and is considered to be a part of London's East End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stepney</span> Human settlement in England

Stepney is an area in London, England and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in East London and part of the East End. Stepney is no longer officially defined, and is usually used to refer to a relatively small area. However, for much of its history the place name applied to a much larger manor and parish. Stepney Green is a remnant of a larger area of Common Land formerly known as Mile End Green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haberdashers' Boys' School</span> Public school in Hertfordshire, England

Haberdashers' Boys' School is a 4–18 boys public school in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference as well as the Rugby Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worshipful Company of Grocers</span> Livery Company of the City of London

The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 111 livery companies of the City of London, ranking second in order of precedence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worshipful Company of Haberdashers</span> Livery company of the City of London

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient merchant guild of London, England associated with the silk and velvet trades.

Haberdashers' Girls' School is a private day school in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as "Habs". The school was founded in 1875 by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haberdashers' Hatcham College</span> Academy in London, England

Haberdashers' Hatcham College is a state secondary school with academy status and a music specialism in New Cross, south-east London. The school was formerly a grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College and now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Leonard's, Shoreditch</span> Church in London Borough of Hackney, United Kingdom

St Leonard's, Shoreditch, is the ancient parish church of Shoreditch, often known simply as Shoreditch Church. It is located at the intersection of Shoreditch High Street with Hackney Road, within the London Borough of Hackney in East London. The current building dates from about 1740 and is Grade I listed. The church is mentioned in the line ""When I grow rich", say the bells of Shoreditch" from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.

N.P Mander Limited later Mander Organs Limited was an English pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in London. Although well known for many years in the organ building industry, they achieved wider notability in 2004 with the refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall's Father Willis Grand Organ. That company filed for insolvency in 2020 with their trading name and intellectual rights being bought out by the Canterbury firm F. H Browne and Sons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Aske (merchant)</span> Merchant & haberdasher (1619–1689)

Robert Aske was a 17th-century English philanthropist, merchant and haberdasher, who served as an Alderman of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New College London</span>

New College London (1850–1980) was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telegraph Hill, Lewisham</span> Human settlement in England

Telegraph Hill is a largely residential conservation area bounded by Nunhead and Brockley and is an electoral ward just south of New Cross in the London Borough of Lewisham in southeast London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoxton Square</span> Public garden square in the United Kingdom

Hoxton Square is a public garden square in the Hoxton area in the London Borough of Hackney. Laid out in 1683, it is thought to be one of the oldest in London. Since the 1990s it has been at the heart of the Hoxton national arts and media hub, as well as hosting entertainment, with globally eclectic musicians, actors and dancers. Most of the square's buildings, quite tall for the Victorian age, diverge in use, with many floors converted to bars, restaurants and offices and at least one live music club of note.

Brighton and Hove has numerous notable pipe organs, from the small early 19th-century organs to the large 20th-century instruments in the large churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Church, Haggerston</span> Church in London Borough of Hackney, United Kingdom

All Saints Church, Haggerston, also Church of All Saints, is an Anglican church in Livermere Road, near the junction with Haggerston Road, in Haggerston in London Borough of Hackney, east London. It is part of a parish with Holy Trinity Church and St Philip Dalston.

Elizabeth Adekunle is a British Anglican priest and former Archdeacon of Hackney, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Macnaughton (bishop)</span> British Anglican bishop

William Malcolm Macnaughton is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2021, he has been Bishop of Repton, the suffragan bishop of the Church of England's Diocese of Derby

Sir John Reader Welch, 2nd Baronet was an English solicitor and baronet.

References

Districts within the
London Borough of Hackney. Hackney districts.gif
Districts within the
London Borough of Hackney.
South aspect of St. John's Hoxton St John the Baptist, Hoxton - geograph.org.uk - 1507811.jpg
South aspect of St. John's Hoxton

Notes

Commons-logo.svg Media related to St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton at Wikimedia Commons

51°31′50″N0°5′0″W / 51.53056°N 0.08333°W / 51.53056; -0.08333