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A Guided Tour
of
St John the Evangelist
Kingsley

The Church’s History
Until 1851 Kingsley formed one of the Townships of the large Parish of Frodsham. The others were Helsby, Alvanley, Newton, Manley and Norley. In order to worship, church-going people would have travelled the three miles to Frodsham in all weathers either on foot or by horse. However in the nineteenth century a great era of church building began. Providing new churches, particularly in the huge cities and towns thrown up by the Industrial Revolution, but also in the many villages, which made up the huge Parishes of the North.
St John the Evangelist Church was built on land given by Mr John Smith Barry, of Marbury Hall, the principal landowner in Kingsley and the Lord of the Manor. The Foundation Stone was laid in August 1849.
The style of the Church is early English and was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It consists of a nave, chancel, aisle and small chapel and is built of porous red sandstone, lined with brick. Originally it was designed without a spire but later added to the design as a condition of an influential donor.
An early plan of the inside of the church shows seating extending to the back of the church and also into the vestry area. Some of the pews we now know as choir stalls were reserved for the Incumbents’ family and servants. The congregation would have used the remaining in the Chancel pews. Pews also go right to the back of the church, past the font. The font is in its present place but we can see that the Vicar’s ‘desk’ is in the body of the nave just below the pulpit. There were no stained glass windows. The plan shows no lectern or organ. Presumably a harmonium accompanied the hymns.
The Bishop of Chester consecrated St John the Evangelist Parish Church on January 6th 1851. Since then St John’s has undergone many changes. These included the clock installed in 1874, the Reredos, stain glass windows, the Chancel Screen and the Lychgate which replaced the East Gate in 1906. In addition lighting and central heating has evolved with time over the years.
The Church is a living record of those who have worshipped here in the past. The record continues in the present and will continue into the future. Much of the furniture has been gifted and is recorded in the parish documents not all of them are included in the guide. However for those who are interested Cliff Peartree has chronicled St John the Evangelist Church’s history from 1851 to 2001. The Chronicle gives a fascinating history, not only of the Church but also of radical changes that have taken place during the Church’s first 150 years. It has been used with permission to compile this guide.
The Clock
The Church Clock was installed in 1872, the names written on the clock are: Rev. T. Moore (Vicar), John Hall & James Glover (Churchwardens), James Blackhurst (maker of the clock). The clock was dismantled and repaired by Messrs. Joyce of Whitchurch in August 1962, at a cost of £150.
The Nave
The Font
The Font is in its original place. In 1851 it was surrounded by pews however these have been removed to make room for the Choir Vestry and possibly to allow access to the tower when the clock was installed in 1874.
The Stained Glass West Window
The West Window was installed in 1903 and illustrates the Saviour as the Good Shepherd. It was given in memory of Dr Steele a Church Warden (1889-1897).
Two Stained Glass Windows
These windows are on either side of the West Window. Musical celebration is depicted by the Lute, trumpet and percussion instruments.
A Cross - (on the North wall opposite the entrance)
The cross was made from part of the old ‘Eagle’ Lectern, which had become unsafe.
The Pews
In 1851 the pews filled the nave of the Church. Apart from the front ten pews on the right all seats were free. Of the ten pews the first was allocated to the Church Wardens and the second and third allocated to the Minister and no rents were charged. The rest were charged at 5/- a single sitting. There were more pews on the left hand side of the Chancel (where the choir stalls and organ are now). The front pews were for the use of the incumbent’s family. Over the years the pews have been removed to make space for the children’s area, the organ and the choir stalls.
Frodsham Branch National Children’s Home plaque
On the South Wall the Frodsham Association of Friends have erected a plaque in memory of the Children who died whilst at the Frodsham home. The Frodsham branch of the National Children’s Home cared for 4113 children between the years of 1903 and 1985.
The War Memorial Tablet
The War Memorial Tablet is placed on the South Wall of the Church in 1919. This records those from the village who lost their lives during the First World War. In 1946 two collection plates were dedicated in memory of Ivor Oultram, he was the only member of the congregation to lose his life on active service during the Second World War.
The Dorcas Window and the children’s corner (1949)
The children’s corner and the Dorcas Window are situated at the North side of the Nave at the front. Mrs Ellen Oultram’s family dedicated the corner and this beautiful window to the Church in her memory.
The Lectern
The Lectern only recently replaced the ‘Eagle’ Lectern, which was believed to have been the original Lectern, however there is no documentary evidence.
The Pulpit
The pulpit and the Vicar’s desk were positioned in the Nave. The pulpit remains in its original position but the Vicar’s desk was moved to the right hand side of the Chancel.
The Chancel
The Chancel Screen
Charles Hannah Pigot Wollaston gave the wrought iron Chancel Screen in memory of his mother in 1913. The Screen is not only beautiful but has provided a useful place to hang aids to illustrate the preachers’ sermons. It is also the ideal backdrop for the flower arrangers of the congregation especially at Christmas and Easter. In 1978 the stone steps were replaced with white veined Marble and the Chancel was paved in Godwin’s encaustic tiles in three patterns.
The Choir stalls and Vicar’s Desk
Around 1910 to 1913 the Vicar’s desk was moved into the Chancel and choir stalls and the visiting clergy’s desk were also installed.
The organ
In 1871 the first organ was installed in the vestry area. Previously a harmonium accompanied the singing. The organ was made by Whitely. In 1895 the organ was restored and enlarged. During 1944 an electronic organ blower was purchased up to this point it had been a manual task. In 1977, after almost a hundred years, a reconditioned organ was purchased and was positioned in the West of the Church. However the Whitely organ was not totally discarded as some of the organs parts were used to make a small manual organ this remained in its original place in the Chancel. It was used to accompany the choir as they sang hymns and anthems. Twenty-one years later in 1998, following fund raising and a sizable grant from the Pilling Trust the present electronic organ was purchased. It is a Makin organ and is situated in the Chancel.
The Processional-Cross
In 1961 the Processional Cross was dedicated to the memory of Mrs Barlow and Mrs Gibson.
Time Capsule
The Time Capsule is on the south side window ledge. It was placed there by the 1st Newton and Kingsley Scouts during a service on the 1st December 2007 and will not be opened until December 2107.
The Sanctuary
The Rerodos
The Rerodos was installed in 1879 and comprises five panels. In the centre a marble cross, to either side two Evangelist Symbols and the Table of the Commandments. The work was carried out by Messrs George Gilbert Scott and John Oldrid Scott (sons of Sir George Gilbert Scott) and cost £190. The sandstone has since been damaged and repaired.
The East Window
Harry Thompson Junior of Liverpool gave the East window in memory of his deceased children in 1881. The window depicts Jesus welcoming the children.
Stained glass windows positioned on the North and South sides of the Chancel
These two windows represent the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and were given by Edward James Walker in memory of his Mother and Father in 1903.
Server’s seat and desk
The Server’s seat and desk situated on the South side of the Sanctuary is given in memory of Heather Blackband who sadly died during the year (1983) when she was Rose Queen.
The Altar
The Alter frontals, missal stand, chalice and paten have all been given in memory of loved ones. The Alter candles were first used in the early 1920s to provide additional light. In 1957 electrical Alter lights were installed.