Church Heritage Record 626043

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Great Yarmouth: St John

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Great Yarmouth: St John
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Closed Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

626043
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Norwich
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Norfolk
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Great Yarmouth

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Seafront, Great Yarmouth

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior
Caption:

603242 

626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Year / Date:

2011, April 06

22/09/2014
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Matthew McDade
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Matthew McDade

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Urban Victorian “Fisherman’s” church now just behind the shoreline, built 1857 by JH Hakewill, successively added to in 1884. Complex accretive plan. Partially converted in 1980s for community use.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is closed for worship.
Date closed for worship: Unknown
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.achurchnearyou.com/great-yarmouth-st-john-22093/

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Matthew McDade () 626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior
() 626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior
Unknown (January 2005) Exterior image of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John
John Henry Hakewill (1859) Church plan of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Church plan of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John
Unknown (January 2005) Interior image of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John
Matthew McDade (22/09/2014) 626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRexterior
Matthew McDade (22/09/2014) 626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~100199~115250 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 05094

Coverage - 1857

Created by HAKEWILL, John Henry: b. 1810 - d. 1880 of London

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~102663~115509 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 05343

Coverage - 1858-1860

Created by ?HAKEWILL, John Henry: b. 1810 - d. 1880 of London

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TG 529 071

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Norfolk County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

The church stands on a small triangular traffic island in a residential area of 19th-century houses and small shops one row back from the seafront. It stands within a low flint wall with several entrances, all of which have lost their gates and are blocked by steel fences. The churchyard is overgrown though clearly efforts are made to mow it. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot, which is laid to grass. No burials. The church is within the “Seafront” Conservation Area.

Church Plan

Church plan of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Church plan of 626043 Great Yarmouth St John
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Ground plan by the architect, showing the addition of the south aisle.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
1859
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
John Henry Hakewill

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

Aisled nave, transepts, chancel, detached “chapter house” vestry, south spirelet, planned tower never built.

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

[Approximate] Nave 22m (70ft) x 8m (26ft), chancel 8m (26ft) long.

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

736 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The church was built in 1857 by John Henry Hakewill, whose better known brother E J Hakewill was also a church architect. J H restored St Nicholas’s and designed St Andrew’s in Great Yarmouth. The church was built to serve the seafaring community, mainly people employed in the herring industry who lived in this area directly by the seafront as the church was at that time.  It is built on reclaimed shore and archaeological remains are not expected on the site. The south aisle was added in 1859 by Hakewill. In 1878 the nave was extended west and the north aisle, transept and north chancel aisle were added, probably by A W Morant. Finally in 1884 the south transept was built and vestry added by Bottle & Olley.

There was a partial refurnishing in 1930-2. Another restoration took place in 1989, the south transept being screened off to provide a kitchen, toilets installed and the vestry used for meetings.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Despite being built in several stages the church is stylistically coherent, being in the Early English style with lancets and plate tracery, exposed flint walls. The west façade has three gables of equal height, pierced by triple paired lancets to nave, double paired lancets to north aisle, and a single paired lancet to south aisle. There are also paired lancets to the north and south aisles, and two paired lancets to the transept facades under a foiled plate-tracery circle. The south transept has a polygonal turret terminating in an open lantern under a pyramid roof, relocated here in 1884.  The chancel is apsidal, the walls again pierced by lancets.

Set to the east but linked by a covered passage is the vestry, which is hexagonal in “chapter house” style, with two lancets to each facet, and a pyramid roof with lantern. These features give the church considerable interest and some impact in the townscape, accentuated by the triangular “traffic island” site and low surrounding buildings.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
John Henry Hakewill
Role:
Architect
From:
01 Jan 1857
To:
31 Dec 1859
Contribution:
design church and added south aisle
Who:
Peter Codling Architects
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:
Who:
The Whitworth Co-Partnership
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
NAVE (19th century)
SPIRE (19th century)
TRANSEPT (19th century)
VESTRY (19th century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
BATH STONE (19th century)
BRICK (19th century)
FLINT (19th century)
SLATE (19th century)

Interior Image

626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
626043_GreatYarmouth_StJohn_Norwich_CHRinterior
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
22/09/2014
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Matthew McDade
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Matthew McDade

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The hexagonal vestry is simple inside, whitewashed with a boarded ceiling, an attractive, well-lit and potentially useful space. The church can be entered through a link.

The nave has a 6-bay arcade of circular columns on waterholding bases. On the north there are sea-weed capitals, on the south stiff-leaf capitals. Low pointed arches with red brick banding. Scissor-braced nave and aisle roofs, boarded to north aisle. Tiled floor. The nave has plain fixed pine bench pews, with moulded square ends, those in the aisles have been cleared. The benches in the south aisle have paper labels saying “reserved for seafaring folk and their families”. A ventilator in the south aisle wall is said to have been because of the smell of the aromas associated with this industry.  There are two tin plates with painted texts.

There is a war memorial chapel in the north transept behind a screen and the south has been converted into a kitchen behind a plain solid screen with hatch, disused.  Looking east, roll-moulded chancel and sanctuary arches. The sanctuary has clustered colonnettes to the lancet windows, and the walls and half-dome ceiling are richly decorated. Good choir stalls with poppyheads. Blue carpet.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (20th century)
BELL (1 of 1)
FONT (COMPONENT) (19th century)
LECTERN (19th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PLAQUE (COMPONENT) (19th / 20th century)
PULPIT (19th century)
RAIL (20th century)
REREDOS (19th century)
STAINED GLASS (19th / 20th century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Portable Furnishings and ArtworksPortable Furnishings and Artworks
BOOK (19th century)

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TG 529 071

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Closed Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

Work in progress - can you help?
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
A Victorian seafront church of some architectural and local historical significance (primarily for the original function of the fisherman’s church), with reserved seating and other associated features.
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The fittings and furnishings are of local significance.
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 0
Total number of animal species 0
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Closed Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Closed Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Closed Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Closed Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackAdded SourceWed 04 Jan 2023 15:35:52
Oliver LackAdded SourceFri 16 Dec 2022 11:53:17
Marleen MadindaModified asset data - Modified the Church Website addressWed 01 May 2019 16:13:39
Marleen MadindaModified asset data - Modified the Visiting and Facilities informationWed 28 Mar 2018 09:44:15
Marleen MadindaAdded image of the interior of the buildingWed 28 Mar 2018 09:41:11
Marleen MadindaRemoved asset source linkWed 28 Mar 2018 09:38:08
Marleen MadindaAdded image of the exterior of the buildingWed 28 Mar 2018 09:37:46
Marleen MadindaRemoved asset source linkWed 28 Mar 2018 09:36:26
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Significance descriptionThu 29 Jun 2017 12:57:51
Anna CampenAdded object typeThu 29 Jun 2017 12:57:03
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