Chapel To St John'S Hospital

Chapel to St John's Hospital

This chapel, designated Grade II*, is the surviving remains of the hospital chapel founded around 1085 by Archbishop Lanfranc as a hospital for the aged, sick and poor, located just outside Canterbury's wall.

The medieval chapel originally formed part of a T-shaped hospital complex, with a large dormitory running north to south and the chapel extending at right angles. By the late 12th century, the chapel consisted of two parallel aisles separated by a central arcade of six bays. The present building preserves the second, third and fourth bays from the west of the original south aisle.

The south wall is of late 11th or very early 12th century origin, constructed in flint and stone rubble. It was heavily restored in the 19th century and now contains a late 12th century lancet window and a two-light 15th century window. The north wall preserves the most significant medieval feature: remains of the late 12th century central arcade. The western bay retains its original masonry with a plain pointed arch on a rectangular stone rubble pier with stone dressings and a chamfered impost. The other two bays, including their arches and piers, were almost entirely recreated in brick in the 16th or 17th century, though the impost on the pier remains from the 12th century. All three bays were underbuilt in 18th century brick, with the central bay containing a round-headed wooden casement window of that period. The east wall was rebuilt in the 19th century incorporating considerable reused 12th century masonry and features a four-light Perpendicular-style window with vertical tracery. The west wall, also rebuilt in the 19th century with chequerboard flint work, has a stone bell support corbelled onto the gable. A timber-framed west porch on dwarf stone walls was added in the 19th century.

The interior is plastered and painted, forming a single undivided space. The three bays of the former 12th century arcade are visible on the north wall with plain pointed arches on rectangular piers with chamfered imposts. The eastern two bays are panelled to above the impost level. The south and west walls are also panelled to dado level with an internal timber lobby. The roof dates to the 19th century with angled braces supported on stone wall corbels.

The chapel's most remarkable fixture is an unusual font comprising a round stone bowl with lug handles made from a reused medieval mortar, standing on a slender stone shaft with a simple moulded base, possibly from the early 13th century. The cover has a large turned finial of 17th century date. Other features include a framed Royal Arms dated 1607 on the frame but bearing the arms and initials of George III, fragments of reset medieval glass in a south window, 19th century nave seating with individual arm rests between seats, two painted inscription boards and a benefaction board (probably 19th century), and small memorial tablets.

The original medieval door, dating to the late 11th or very early 12th century, has a round head with a band of incised lozenges. This door was originally the south door of the medieval chapel but was reset as the west door during 19th century restoration work.

The hospital was damaged by fire in the mid to late 14th century. A faculty issued around 1744 authorised the demolition of the north side of the church and the bell tower. At this time, the north arcade was underbuilt in brick and a new north window was inserted. By the late 18th century, the building had reached its present size and contained a pulpit and communion table. The chapel underwent extensive restoration in the 19th century, including partial rebuilding, re-roofing and refurnishing. During this period, the south door was moved to the west end and the west porch was built.