Church Of St John

WIGAN

SD5806SW STANDISHGATE 24-1/6/73 (East side) 24/10/51 Church of St John

GV II*

Roman Catholic church. Dated 1819 on frieze of colonnaded porch; restoration in progress at time of inspection (July 1992). MATERIALS: sandstone ashlar, hipped slate roof. STYLE: Classical. PLAN: rectangular, set back from, and at right-angles to street. EXTERIOR: 2-storey 5-bay symmetrical west front with full-width Ionic colonnaded porch, the frieze inscribed "ERECTED ANNO DOMINI MDCCCXIX", 1st-floor impost band, cornice with blocking course and small central upstand. Large round-headed doorways in the 3 centre bays, all with stepped voussoirs, panelled double doors and fanlights with radiating glazing bars; and at 1st floor large round-headed windows in the 1st, 3rd and 5th bays, that in the centre now filled with C20 mosaic and the others with renewed arched joinery. 4-bay side walls, pilastered, with large round-headed windows in the 1st 3 bays; small vestry with hipped roof attached to 4th bay of north side; louvred cupola with domed roof over 4th bay of south side. Rear: large round-headed window in centre, flanked by pairs of 12-pane sashes on 2 levels. INTERIOR: not accessible at time of inspection, but noted to have Corinthian pilasters with entablature and prominent mutuled cornice, internal apse with giant Corinthian semi-columns and elaborate baldachino, and west gallery on Corinthian columns. Forms group with Walmesley monument in front (qv) and with No.93 (St John's Club (qv)) beside entrance passage. (Little B: Catholic Churches since 1623: London: 1966-; Watkin D: The Buildings of Britain: Regency: London: 1982-).

Listing NGR: SD5848906039