St John the Baptist, Hoxton

Completed in 1826, St. John's is a Georgian church in the Classical style, and the only one built to the design of Francis Edwards,[5] Sir John Soane's foremost pupil. The building is a large example of a Commissioners' church, with its original floor plan intact, as well as notable galleries and décor,[6] including a painted ceiling. This was executed in the early 20th century by the architect Joseph Arthur Reeve.

Built and installed in 1915 by the firm of Thomas Sidwell Jones,[7] the organ is situated in the choir gallery and retains its original late Georgian wooden case with an elaborate façade displaying the arms of King William IV.

Last restored in 1934 by Henry Speechly & Son,[8] St John's organ is voiced with the following stops:

Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, its name preserves the memory of a local priory dissolved by King Henry VIII.[9]

In Victorian London the parish's work was recognised by social campaigners, such as the philanthropist Charles Booth, for its welfare work in a deteriorating inner-city environment.[10] To give opportunities to the "local poor",[11] the first vicar founded what became London's largest savings bank[12] and St John's National Schools[13] which still thrive. Many members of the church[14] became missionaries in Africa and Asia, among them the first Bishop of Chota Nagpur, the Rt Revd Jabez Cornelius Whiteley, whose father was Chaplain to the Haberdashers' Aske's Hospital School formerly located in Pitfield Street.[15][16]

Robert Aske's legacy still benefits the parish and associated primary school,[17] while Haberdasher Street[18] like Aske Gardens,[19] remain in the memory of his original generosity.[20]

"Amazing Grace"
(music pub. 1847)

One of the 18th-century residents of Hoxton Square,[21] the Revd John Newton, composed the popular hymn "Amazing Grace".[22] Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97), the writer and philosopher, was born in Hoxton. John Mander, an organ builder, lived at Hoxton and one of his sons, Noel Mander, founded Mander Organs.[23]

The maternal great-great-great-grandfather of Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge), John Goldsmith, was married to Esther Jones at St John's Church in 1850.[24]

The present vicar is the Revd Graham Hunter.

• Geffrye Museum
• List of churches in the Diocese of London

South aspect of St. John's Hoxton

• St. John's Hoxton official website
• www.haberdashers.co.uk
• www.npor.org.uk
• www.ashrare.com/hoxton_prints
• www.londongardensonline.org.uk

Media related to St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton at Wikimedia Commons

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