St John's Church, Portland
St. John's Church (also known as St John the Baptist Church) is a Anglican Church of England church in Fortuneswell, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. It was built between 1838–40 and has been a Listed Grade II building since January 1951.[1] The churchyard walls, gate piers, railings, and steps of St. John's Church, dating from 1839–40, became Grade II Listed in September 1978.[2] At this same time, two headstone monuments, about 5 metres north east from the west tower of the church became Grade II Listed.[3]
Designed by Edward Mondey or Charles Wallis, the church cost £2,315. Built of Portland stone, the church has a Gothic design in Commissioners' Early English style. It has also been described as Norman in its architecture.[4]
The church remains active, as part of the Portland Parish - a host of three churches; St John's Church (St John the Baptist), All Saints Church and the Avalanche Memorial Church (St Andrew's Church).[5][6]
History
St George's Church, built between 1754-66, was the island's only parish church into the 19th century.[7] However, by the 1830s, it had become too small and inconvenient for the increasing population within Underhill. It was decided that a new church should be built for Underhill as a sister church to St George's. The church's construction commenced in 1838, and was completed by 1840, with the work undertaken by John Hancock of Weymouth.[8] In 1865 Underhill became a parish in its own right, with St. John's becoming the parish church.[9]
During 1876 the church underwent renovation and was also enlarged.[9] This included the addition of a chancel and organ chamber by George Crickmay.[4] During 1901 a new Parish room for the church was built and opened at the north end of Ventnor Road.[9] When the Second World War drew to a close, on VJ Day, the 14th Port Regiment of the US Army presented its Stars and Stripes colours to St John's Church, as a memento of its close association with the people of Portland, both service and civilian.[10]
In 1968 a Father Willis Organ was brought from St Paul's School, Kensington, London for £2,000, and installed after the balcony was reinforced. The organ fell into disrepair due to lack of use, with repairs quoted at an unachievable £100,000. In 2013 it was sold to the Parish Church of Our Lady of Loretu, Għajnsielem Gozo.
References
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1205490)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203084)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1205523)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ a b Legg, Rodney (1999). Portland Encyclopaedia. Dorset Publishing Company. p. 133. ISBN 978-0948699566.
- ^ "Find Us". Portlandparish.org. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ A Church Near You. "Portland: St John the Baptist, Portland - Dorset | Diocese of Salisbury". Achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ "Portland Churches, Buildings and Views". ancestry.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ https://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/199172/Portland-conservation-area-appraisal/pdf/Appraisal_of_the_Conservation_Areas_of_Portland.pdf
- ^ a b c http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/U_Hill/St_John/St_John_1.html
- ^ Pomeroy, Colin A. (1995). Military Dorset Today: Second World War Scenes and Settings That Can Still Be Seen 50 Years On. Silver Link Publishing Ltd. p. 143. ISBN 978-1857940770.
External links
Media related to St. John's Church, Portland at Wikimedia Commons- Portland Parish website
