J is for John

St John this time.

The other church in Bromsgrove centre. Was quite hard to get a photo today as the weather is grim and wet! All the same the reluctant family including the dog trudged with me to the only thing I could think of beginning with J!

The rain started to come down heavier when we got there so I was very nervous to get my camera out but managed 2-3 quick shots not expecting a lot, so I'm quite pleased with what I got considering.

Anyway with my new found addiction of photography I thought it may as well encourage me to look up local history as well so here's what I found out.

Bromsgrove, St John the Baptist

The third church on the site, St John's is fascinating with its wide variety of styles, from Norman through to 20th century.

The south porch entrance is 15th century and the inside arch is a rebuilt Norman doorway. From the centre of the nave one has an overall view of the 138 foot long building, with a chancel, rebuilt in the 13th century, and north and south aisles, lit by a clerestory and east and west windows. The west tower was completed after 1400. In 1858 Sir Gilbert Scott did a major restoration.

In the sanctuary, the east window has five lancets and was built in the 13th century. The present glass was added in 1858 and shows various events in the life of Christ. Many other windows carry good Victorian glass.

The nave is best viewed from the east end, with its 14th century tower arch. The tower, which is asymetrical is of interest as it is not in line with the nave, and the great west window is not central. The glass depicts the parable of the Ten Virgins.

At the east end of the north aisle you will see the 15th century tomb of Sir Humphrey Stafford and his wife, and that of Sir John Talbot of Grafton and his two wives, from the 16th century. The first three windows on the north wall are 15th century and the next two are from about 1320.
In the south aisle is a fine organ screen (1969) with ten woodcarvings depicting historic events of the town. Its carver, Robert Pancheri, was the successor to the Bromgrove Guild, an early 20th century collective of craftsmen, whose work in bronze, wood and glass, can be seen in several parts of the church.

From outside, the church is impressive, of red sandstone finished with a battlemented parapet and crocketted pinnacles, mainly Perpendicular in style. The tower rises in three stages to a fine octagonal spire with a total height of 200 feet.