St John's Church, Ranmoor

St John's Church, Ranmoor is a large parish church in Ranmoor, a suburb of the City of Sheffield, England. It is a Church of England church in the Diocese of Sheffield, and it is the second church to be built on this site after the original church was destroyed by fire in 1887. It has a 190-foot-tall (58 m) tower and spire,[1] the second tallest church spire in Sheffield after the Cathedral Church of St Marie which is just 5 ft taller.

St John's Church, Ranmoor
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad Church
Websitewww.stjohnsranmoor.org.uk
History
DedicationSt. John the Evangelist
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseSheffield
DeaneryHallam
Clergy
Vicar(s)Revd Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes
Laity
Director of musicPhilip Collin

History

The original church built on this site was designed by E. M. Gibbs,[2] and was opened on 24 April 1879. The building was almost entirely destroyed by fire on 2 January 1887; all that survived was the 190-foot-tall (58 m) tower and spire. A new church, designed by Flockton & Gibbs (the same Edward Mitchel Gibbs[2]), was built that incorporated the old tower and spire. The church reopened on 9 September 1888; it is a Grade II* listed building.[3]

Memorials

The War Memorial in the churchyard consists of a 16 ft Runic Cross made from unpolished Cornish granite, with carved panels on front and back designed by Mr. A.F. Watson, Sheffield.[4]

Organ

The organ was installed in 1888 by Sheffield builder Brindley and Foster. It is a large three-manual instrument, generally considered to be one of the finest pipe organs in the area.[5] In 2020, the organ underwent an extensive overhaul to repair damage caused by a partial collapse of the ceiling in October 2017.[6] The full specification of the pipe organ can be found at the National Pipe Organ Register.[7]

Notable people

Monty Python actor Michael Palin listed St John's as one of his 'top seven' favourite Churches in a speech to the National Churches Trust on account of it being the Church he was baptised in and regularly attended as a child. He describes fond memories of his Father being both a chorister and bellringer there.[8]


References
  1. "Church-Building News". The Builder. 37 (1891): 497. 3 May 1879.
  2. Harman, R. & Minnis, J. (2004) Pevsner City Guides: Sheffield, pp267–268. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-10585-1
  3. Historic England (1973). "Church of St John (1271043)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 February 2006.
  4. Hill, Dean; Reeves, Stuart. "Ranmoor War Memorial (St John's)". Sheffield Soldiers of The Great War. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. "The Organs of St Johns". St Johns Ranmoor. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. "Closed Sheffield church mounts appeal to pay for £120,000 ceiling repairs". The Star. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. "Yorkshire, West Riding Sheffield--Ranmoor, St. John the Evangelist [D08231]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  8. Palin, Michael (22 May 2015). "Michael Palin: my seven of the best". The Church Times. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
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