St John the Baptist’s Church, Penzance is a parish church in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

Diocese of Truro in

Penzance Penzance ( ; ) is a town, civil parish and port in the Penwith district of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is the westernmost major town in Cornwall and is about west-southwest of Plymouth and west-southwest of London. Situated in the ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

History

The need for a new church for Penzance was first raised by the vicar of Penzance, Revd. Prebendary Hedgeland on 22 December 1878. At that time Penzance had a population of 10,414 but only two churches, whereas Truro had a population of 11,040 with four churches. The site on which the church was built was given by John Jope Rogers, measuring 324 ft by 257 ft with space for later construction of a vicarage and schools. The architect was James Piers St Aubyn and the contractors appointed were Messrs Carah and Edwards, Crowan. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 23 June 1880 The building was constructed with stone from

Castle an Dinas, St Columb Major Castle an Dinas is an Iron Age hillfort at the summit of Castle Downs, Cornwall, Castle Downs near St Columb Major in Cornwall, UK () and is considered one of the most important hillforts in the southwest of Great Britain, Britain. It dates fro ...

. The external dressed stonework was done in Ham Hill stone from the quarries of Charles Trask in Somerset and the internal dressed stonework was in Doulting stone from the same quarries. The nave and aisle floors were to be laid with thin paving-tiles of three colours from the Architectural Pottery Company, Poole in Dorset, with encaustic tiles for other floor areas from Messrs Godwin of Hereford. The vestries were heated with Welsh fire lamps, and the church by Rimington’s apparatus. The font was an old one with a date of 1668 which was donated by St Mary's Church, Penzance. The church was lit by 12 gas coronas suspended from the arches of the arcades. The church was consecrated on 4 October 1881 by the

bishop of Truro The bishop of Truro is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown De ...

, Rt. Revd. Edward White Benson. The porch was added around 1890. A statue of St John the Baptist was added in 1891. The choir stalls of west country oak with accommodation for 16 men and 19 boys and a pulpit were installed in 1900. The reredos of 1902 and the altar of 1908 were designed by

George Fellowes Prynne George Halford Fellowes Prynne (1853–1927) was a Victorian and Edwardian English church architect. Part of the High Church school of Gothic Revival Architecture, Prynne's work can be found across Southern England. Biography Early life George H ...

and constructed by H.H. Martyn of Cheltenham. The wrought-iron chancel screen and gates were added in 1905.

Stained glass

*East window 1901 by

Clayton and Bell Clayton and Bell was one of the most prolific and proficient British workshops of stained-glass windows during the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century. The partners were John Richard Clayton (1827–1913) and Alfred Bell (1832� ...

. Subject: the ascension. A memorial to Queen Victoria and the soldiers of the Second Boer War. *North aisle 1901 by

Charles Eamer Kempe Charles Eamer Kempe (29 June 1837 – 29 April 1907) was a British Victorian era designer and manufacturer of stained glass. His studios produced over 4,000 windows and also designs for altars and altar frontals, furniture and furnishings, lychg ...

. The Poole Memorial Window. Subjects: St Michael the Archangel and St George. *North aisle 1970 by G. Maile *South transept 1955 by William Morris and Co in memory of Ellen Carhart Lane, Mayoress of Penzance.

Incumbents

*A.L. Palmes 1882-1883 (afterwards vicar of Bodmin) *Edward Townend 1883-1896 *T.F. Maddrell 1896-1911 *H.R. Jennings 1911-1922 *E. Vernon Shaw 1922-1939 (Formerly Rector of St Mewan Church) *A.G. Coombs 1939-1950 (formerly vicar of St Augustine’s Church, Thorpe Bay, Essex) *Dennis Warden Halt from 1950 (formerly vicar of Mevagissey)

Organ

A single manual and pedal organ by J.W. Walker was installed in 1883 at a cost of £220 ). A second manual was provided for but not equipped with stops. It was enlarged and improved over the years. It was rebuilt by Heard and Sons in 1902 then later in 1931 by Hele and J.W. Walker in 1966 and Lance Foy in 1990 to form a 3 manual and pedal instrument. The specification can be found on the

National Pipe Organ Register The British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) is a British organisation and registered charity which aims to promote study and appreciation of all aspects of the pipe organ. Further, it acts as a lobbying body to raise awareness of organ issue ...

Organists

*Martin Bodinner 1883 - 1884 (afterwards organist of

St Petroc's Church, Bodmin St Petroc's Church, Bodmin, also known as Bodmin Parish Church is an Anglican parish church in the town of Bodmin, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The existing church building is dated 1469–1472 and was until the building of Truro Cathedral ...

) *Robert S. Airey 1884 - 1887 (afterwards organist at Romsey Abbey) *George Sellers 1887 - 1955 *John (Jack) Retallack

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penzance

Churches completed in 1881

St John Saint John or St. John usually refers to either John the Baptist or John the Apostle. Saint John or St. John may also refer to: People Saints * John the Baptist ( – ), preacher, ascetic, and baptizer of Jesus Christ * John the Evangelis ...