Historical Facts About St John's

The first church was erected about 1130, Norman in style, the same length as the present building but only the width of the chancel.  The north wall of the chancel contains the only surving window, the tower was added in c.1270. 

 The growth in the population of the town created a need for a larger church, and gradually the nave was remodelled to its present size.  First, a coal merchant, William Hutton, paid for the erection of the north aisle c.1350; his rebus appears above the west column.

When this was complete, the south aisle was erected, the north transept was added and the north aisle widened and extended to enclose the tower.  Around 1400 an aisle was added to the north transept and fifty years later another wealthy merchant, Robert Rodes, paid for another major transformation.  The walls of the nave above the arches were raised with clerestory windows, necessitating a higher roof: the old roof line can be detected beneath the plaster of the west wall.  The south aisle was rebuilt like the north aisle, the south transept was erected and the tower was vaulted; the last two bear Rodes's coat of arms, this by the second half of the fifteeth century: the church was substanteally as we see it today.

The church is open each day and vistors are very welcome to come in and look around this Grade 1 listed building.  The interior of the church is light and spacious, this is partly because in the major restoration of 1970; the stained glass in the nave was removed and the walls plastered and painted.  There is much of interest to see at St John's, you can pick up a guide to help you.

Notice:

• Font 1690 and Cover c. 1520 
• Choirstalls by Robert Thompson (whose trademark is a mouse)
• Credence Table 1712
• Window c. 1375 ( the oldest representation of the Arms of Newcastle)
• Squint of Anchorite's cell c. 1300
• Pulpit c. 1620
• Windows by William Wailes
• Monument to Richard Clayton
• Organ (rebuilt in 1909 and 1997)
• Eight Bells in the tower

There are booklets and leaflets available in the church on the glass, the organ, the bells, the anchorite's cell, the poet John Cunningham, and Richard Grainger, the town planner responsible for the city's elegant streets.  Guide leaflets are also available in seven languages.