St John's Church

Built in 1634 under the benefaction of local merchant John Harrison, this building is a marvellous - and rare - example of Gothic architecture from the medieval period. In 1860, the distinguished architect, Norman Shaw, said the church was "a specimen of church architecture to which no other town in England can produce a parallel". Hyperbolic words indeed, but words that prevented its planned demolition in the mid-1860s. The inside is breathtaking, and heavily adorned with woodwork carvings in a Flemish style. The wood of the pulpit and pews is dark, heavy and sombre, but is complemented by a menagerie of delicate figures - hermaphrodites, angels and other curious entities - looking down from the corbels and the chancel. It is a shame that they now look down upon spiritual pews devoid of a congregation. But the rest of us can see this architectural glory of internal and external design (ironically, on any day but Sunday), and perhaps through our attendance ensure its ongoing survival.

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• Attraction Type: Religious Buildings

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