Church Of St John

The Church of St John, built in 1838 by Henry Atkinson, is a Commissioners' Church that has been converted into offices. It is constructed from London stock brick with a slate roof and features stuccoed dressings. The church has a simple box-like plan, with a west porch and a bellcote, and includes a later chancel, which was not visible during the survey in July 2004.

The exterior faces the street with a stuccoed west porch that has a gabled parapet above a string course, set-back buttresses, and a Tudor-arched doorway with a hoodmould. Above the doorway, there is a clock face set in a moulded stuccoed roundel. The church is gabled to the west, featuring a stuccoed parapet and a gabled bellcote at the apex. The north and south windows are adorned with Y tracery.

Although the interior was not inspected, it is understood that the chancel has been preserved as a single space. The Church of St John is significant as a typical early-Victorian church, reflecting the growth of the local population and the need for more places of worship during that time. It exemplifies the characteristics of a Commissioners' Church, utilizing affordable materials and minimal architectural decoration, while still achieving an attractive design. The stock brick and stucco dressing are reminiscent of the materials found in many London domestic buildings of the same period. The elegant execution of the side windows and porch enhances its appeal. This church represents a transition from the Georgian approach to Gothic design, preceding the influential works of Pugin. Despite the loss of some interior features, the exterior remains intact, justifying its listing at Grade II.