A Brief History of St Johns
In 1839 when the Revd Henry Hardinge was Rector of Woodbridge, St Mary's Church was filled to over-flowing. He started the project of building a new church in the Millers Lane area. All the land from New Street to Pytches Road was either pasture or orchards, but was being sold for development.
In 1842 when £3,000 had been raised, designs were sought, and from 42 submitted that of Alfred Lockwood, the chief local builder was chosen. The foundation stone weighing nearly 2 tons was brought from Yorkshire by water, and was laid with great ceremony on June 30th 1842.
Mr Lockwood's motto was "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it". The Church was built of white brick in 'Early English Style' with a spire rising to 138 ft. It could hold 800 people, with galleries along 3 sides. The organ was at the back and there was a three decker pulpit.
The consecration took place on August 27th 1846. The Church Patronage Society, an evangelical trust, were the patrons.
1846-1871: Revd J M Rowley
- 1853: Vicarage built - cost £850.
- 1854: Parish formed.
1871-1881: Revd T H Edwards
1881-1919: Revd C B Radcliffe
- Churchyard closed for burials except for those who had purchased ground.
- 1881: 3 decker pulpit replaced with a stone and marble one. Also stone prayer desk and seat.
- 1891: Parish room erected in Vicarage garden, entrance St John's Street. Cost £300.
- 1896: Side galleries removed. Organ installed south-east front of Church.
- 1897: Bell hung
- 1901: Present pews fitted. Church decorated. Gas lights replaced oil and new leaded lights.
- 1913: Clock fitted in tower for the town.
- 1919: Last burial service in churchyard.
1919-1923: Revd P M Hinde
- First PCC election.
1923-1946: Revd T G Rhind Tutt
- 1925: Electric light installed, cost £50 (replacing gas lights).
- 1929: Choir Vestry built - cost £300. Teak War Memorial tablet erected.
- 1943: Parish room destroyed by fire.
- 1944: Iron railings surrounding churchyard removed.
1946-1953: Revd R Tydeman
1954-1963: Revd H Hodge
1964-1968: Revd E T N Jarvis
- 1966-7: Church ceiling replaced and church redecorated.
1968-1973: Revd D Parsons
1974-1985: Revd R G Speck
- 1975: Spire removed because unsafe
- 1982: North gallery staircase removed, and toilet and wash basin put in its place. Church redecorated.
- 1984: New vicarage built, old vicarage bought by the congregation for use as family centre.
- 1985: New electric blower for the organ.
1985-1991: Revd P H Miller
- 1988: choir pews, font, pulpit and brass communion rails removed. New matching wooden table, pulpit, font, clergy desks, choir chairs and communion rails bought. Raised dais built and carpeted. Amplification and recording system fitted. New entrance porch and vicar's vestry built at west end of church. Existing entrance doors replaced by glass panelled doors.
1992-98: Revd R F Webb
- 1994: Full-time Youth Leader appointed
- 1996: Church Hall interior extensively renovated
- 1996: Plans to reorder the interior of St John's
- 1997: Pipe organ and pews removed and replaced with digital electronic organ and chairs. Dais and communion rails extended. Dais, nave and gallery recarpeted. New vestry, servery and disabled wc built. New PA system installed.
1998- : Revd D G Gardner
- 2001: Group Ministry formed with St Mary's Woodbridge and St Andrew's Melton