Please read our guidance page about heritage designations.

Description

ASHCROFT ROAD (East side) FORMER CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE (Formerly listed as: ASHCROFT ROAD CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE) 910/2/146 12-MAY-77 GV II DATES OF MAIN PHASES/ NAMES OF ARCHITECTS: Begun in 1881-3 to designs by J T Micklethwaite and S Clarke, but not completed until 1901-4. Converted in 2004 for use as an arts and performance space. MATERIALS: Red brick with very limited Ancaster stone dressings. Slate roofs. PLAN: Partially aisled nave (western 3 bays only), chancel, SE organ chamber and vestry. EXTERIOR: A severe, French-influenced lancet style with good brickwork. The W end has a central buttress topped by a blocky bell turret. On either side is a three light window with stepped lancets within a single, pointed arch. Plain, round-headed doors in the W ends the aisles. There are similar 3 light windows and brick buttresses on the side elevations. The E wall is blind. Gabled, half-timbered oriel on S side. INTERIOR: A large, open space dominated by the tall arcades with octagonal piers. The arcades are of 8 bays, but only the western 3 bays open into proper aisles. The piers of the eastern 5 bays are freestanding, but have a wall immediately behind them. The W responds of both arcades are long to create internal porches in the W ends of the aisles. There is an embattled cornice with fleurons in the chancel. PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: Polygonal C19 font rood beam with a cross and a stone altar on a raised platform. Otherwise the fittings have been removed. HISTORY: Begun in 1881-2 to accommodate the rapidly growing population of Gainsborough. The original plans were for a 6-bay aisled and clerestoried nave, 2-bay aisled chancel and a W tower, and the blind, unfinished aisles in the chancel and eastern part of the nave reflect this ambition. In the event, however, only the body of the chancel and eastern 4 bays of the nave were built in 1881-2; the western part of the nave, including the partial aisles, was added in 1901-4. The architects for both phases were the highly regarded church architects J T Micklethwaite (1843-1906) and Somers Clarke (1841-1926). The church became redundant in 2002 and was converted to an arts and performance space in 2004. SOURCES: Pevsner, N and Harris, J., Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (2002), 295 Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Buildings Society, 10340 and 10533 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The former church of St John the Divine is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Plain and severe brick church designed by J T Micklethwaite and Somers Clarke, built in two phases 1881-3 and 1901-4. * High quality 8-bay arcades internally, partially blocked and reflecting an unexecuted plan for a bigger church. * Group value with the former vicarage (gv). Former list entry: ASHCROFT ROAD (East Side) Church of St John the Divine SK 8189 2/146 Grade C GV 1881-2. Architect, Micklethwaite and Somers Clarke. Enlarged in 1902. Plain building in red brick, without tower. Gable end to road has central full-height brick buttress, coping continues up to bell-cote. Tile roof. 2 round-arched doorways. Plinth. 2 windows of 3 stepped lancet lights. Side elevation has similar windows and brick buttresses. Gabled half-timber oriel. Interior: Nave of 8 bays with tall arcades and octagonal piers. Reredos of circa 1700 from Church of St Peter, Barnsley. C17 chandelier. Statue of St John by Harry Hems, 1893. The Church forms part of a group. School building of St John the Divine; Church of St John the Divine and the Vicarage of St John the Divine form a group. Listing NGR: SK8174789025

External Links (1)

Sources (2)

Location

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)