Church of St John

Church of St John the Evangelist

Built between 1632 and 1634, this church was founded by John Harrison. It underwent significant alterations in the 19th century by Norman Shaw, Temple Moore and other locally notable architects. The exterior displays Late Gothic Perpendicular style, whilst the interior retains Caroline Gothic (Jacobean) character.

The church is constructed of well-dressed Woodhouse Moor sandstone ashlar with grey-slate roof coverings. It features decorative and finely carved wooden fixtures and fittings throughout, along with leaded stained-glass windows.

The building is planned as a double-naved structure aligned east-west, situated to the west of New Briggate. It comprises a south porch, a square north extension and a west tower with an attached north vestry room.

The west end displays a flamboyant five-light tracery window set in a triple chamfered surround with an ogee hoodmould ornamented with animal headstops. A moulded plinth and parapet coping run across this elevation. The embattled three-stage west tower was designed by John Dobson of Leeds in the 1830s. It features three-stepped angle buttresses with shaped capstones to the first stage and gable capping to the second, rising to tall crocketed pinnacles. The ground floor contains a pointed two-light west window with curvilinear tracery in a triple-chamfered surround with hoodmould, and a slit stair window above. The second stage displays a clock face set in a 12-cusped circular surround with square frame and hoodmould on each elevation. The third stage has belfrey openings with curvilinear tracery in roll-moulded arches and ogee hoodmoulds with floriated stops. A rectangular extension built 1866–68 is attached to the north side of the tower, featuring a half-hipped roof with three two-light square-headed mullion windows to the west, a blind north elevation and a catslide extension to the north.

The principal entrance is through the south porch designed by Norman Shaw, built 1866–68. It has a double chamfered plinth, stepped angle buttresses, moulded eaves and an embattled parapet with winged gargoyles to the corners and a Celtic finial at the apex. The pointed double-chamfered entranceway features hexagonal columns with moulded capitals to the jambs, set within a two-leaf iron and wooden gate. Above the entrance is a large stone inscribed sundial. The east and west returns have square-headed windows with two-light arched and cusped tracery.

The seven-bay south nave elevation has a chamfered plinth and embattled parapet (1868), supported by stepped buttresses, with the western angle buttress rising to a crocketed pinnacle. Five flat-headed Perpendicular windows (1866–68) with four arched and cusped tracery lights and moulded hoodmoulds span the elevation. Above the central three windows are unusual small arched and cusped leaded lights (1866–68). The sixth bay contains a double-chamfered arched door with hoodmould and a pointed Jacobean strapwork panelled door. The six-bay north elevation broadly matches the south, but with five windows, four buttresses and a bracketed stone eaves with no embattled parapet (removed 1801). A single-cell extension at the east end has a moulded parapet, a two-light window to the west and matching window to the north.

The eastern chancel is double-gabled with moulded coping and Celtic cross finials to each gable. Each gable end has a pointed five-light tracery window with moulded hoodmoulds and carved animal headstops, with small arched and cusped leaded lights above matching the north and south elevations. At the roof junction is a stepped buttress with gabled capstone below a moulded stone hopper.

The interior represents a rare Gothic survival. The double-nave is a unified space divided by a central arcade of pointed arches supported on octagonal piers, some plain and others partly moulded, with capitals carved with acanthus leaves and ball ornament. The open oak timber truss roof features moulded tie beams, each with a central hanging fretted and gilded drop pendent, supported on wooden corbels in the form of angels, musicians and hermaphrodite figures. Between the rafters and purlins are eleven bays of moulded plaster panels with strapwork mouldings depicting roses, oak leaves, acorns, vines and other plants. The stained glass predominantly dates to the 19th century and includes work by C E Tute, Hardman, Victor Milnor, and Burlison and Grylls.

The reredos is a composite piece with mosaics by Salviati flanking a Continental carved panel, with roof corbels at each end. The early to mid-17th century chancel table has bulbous legs and a strapwork frieze with carved heads of men. The chancel stalls, altar rail and organ case were designed by Shaw, with the 1885 organ built by Abbott of Leeds.

The original screen extending across the nave is heavily carved with a panelled dado, tapered arcade balusters with carved ornamentation and Ionic capitals, and an entablature. The entablature features an elaborate frieze of flowers and hearts mixed with vines, scattered with grotesque figures, and carved human and lion brackets flanking the screen entrances supporting a heavily moulded and projecting cornice. In both aisles the screen is topped by elaborate strapwork cresting (removed 1860s, restored 1890–91), displaying the Royal coat of arms: one of King James I and the other of Charles I as Prince of Wales. Temple Moore panels are now relocated to the west wall. Above the screen, semi-circular wooden arches rise to the tie beams with strapwork spandrels.

The eclectically detailed pulpit with tester is an 1880s reconstruction featuring replacement balusters, stair rail and wall board. The pews, with turned finials, cresting and carved ends, have been adapted from old panelling. Some panelling around the Harrison chapel comprises doors from the original pews. The font is a design by Norman Shaw.

Additional fittings include three brass chandeliers, a wooden cross and a portrait of John Harrison. The interior contains various monuments, including the tomb of John Harrison.