Saint John the Baptist, Maddermarket, Norwich: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox church

| name = Church of Saint John the Baptist at Maddermarket

| fullname =

| image = Norwich St John, Maddermarket church - geograph.org.uk - 2212245.jpg

| imagesize =

| imagealt = A stone church seen from the southeast, showing the south aisle, clerestory, and west tower

| landscape = yes

| caption = Church of St John the Baptist at Maddermarket

| pushpin map = Norfolk

| pushpin map alt =

| pushpin mapsize = 250

| pushpin label position =

| map caption = Location in Norfolk

| latd = 52.6300

| longd = 1.2927

| location = Maddermarket, [[Norwich]], [[Norfolk]]| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.6300|1.2927|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

| osgraw = TG 229 087| denomination = [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]

| churchmanship =

| membership =

| attendance =

| website = [http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/Church-of-St-John-Maddermarket-Norwich-Norfolk/ Churches Conservation Trust]

| former name =

| bull date =

| founded date =

| founder =

| dedication = [[John the Baptist|Saint John the Baptist]]

| dedicated date =

| consecrated date =

| cult =

| relics =

| events =

| past bishop =

| people =

| status =

| functional status = [[redundant church|Redundant]]

| heritage designation = Grade I

| designated date = 26 February 1954

| architect =

| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]

| style = [[English Gothic architecture|Gothic]]

| groundbreaking =

| completed date =

| construction cost =

| closed date =

| demolished date =

| capacity =

| length =

| width =

| width nave =

| height =

| diameter =

| other dimensions =

| floor count =

| floor area =

| spire quantity =

| spire height =

| materials = [[Flint]] with stone and brick dressings; some [[ashlar]]

}}

The '''Church of St John the Baptist at Maddermarket''', is a [[redundant church|redundant]] [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church in the city of [[Norwich]], [[Norfolk]], England. It is designated by [[English Heritage]] as a Grade&nbsp;I [[listed building]],<ref name=hg>{{NHLE |num= 1372509|desc= Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich|accessdate= 9 July 2013|separator=,|ps=}}</ref> and is under the care of the [[Churches Conservation Trust]].<ref name=cct>{{Citation | url = http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/Church-of-St-John-Maddermarket-Norwich-Norfolk/| title = Church of St John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk| accessdate = 25 March 2011| publisher = [[Churches Conservation Trust]]}}</ref>

==History==

There may have been a church on the site in the 11th&nbsp;century, but the earliest fabric in the present church dates from the 14th&nbsp;century. Most of the church dates from a major rebuilding between about 1445 to 1510. At some time the east end of the church was shortened.<ref name=info>{{Citation | last = Hollinshead| first = Liz| author-link = | publication-date = | date = | year = 2003| title = The Church of St John the Baptist Maddermarket, Norwich: Information for Teachers | edition = | volume = | series = | publication-place = London | place = | publisher = [[Churches Conservation Trust]]| format = | url = | accessdate =}}</ref> There has been a tradition that this took place in 1578 when the street was widened for a visit by [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]],<ref name=cct/><ref name=info/> but this is considered to be untrue.<ref name=nhct>{{Citation | url = http://www.norwich-churches.org/St%20John%20Maddermarket/home.shtm| title = St. John Maddermarket| accessdate = 24 February 2011| publisher = Norwich Historic Churches Trust}}</ref> Following this, the major changes were to the interior of the church. At some time a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[Rood screen|chancel screen]] was removed. In 1849 a gallery was installed at the west end. Restorations took place in the 19th&nbsp;century; these included rebuilding the tower in 1822, and refurbishing the interior of the roof and rebuilding the walls in 1863.<ref name=info/> Also in 1863 the interior was reordered.<ref name=nhct/> There was a gas explosion in 1876, in which much of the stained glass was damaged.<ref name=info/> At the beginning of the 20th&nbsp;century the [[vicar#Anglican|vicar]], Rev William Busby, installed items of furniture collected from other churches.<ref name=cct/> In 1914–15 work was done on the [[Lady Chapel]]. The church was closed for Anglican worship in 1982, and used by a community from the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] until 1990, when it was [[vesting|vested]] in the Churches Conservation Trust.<ref name=info/>

==Architecture==

===Exterior===

The church is constructed mainly in [[flint]] with stone and brick dressings. The [[clerestory]] is faced with [[ashlar]]. The [[aisle]]s are roofed with lead, and the rest of the church is [[slate]]d. Its plan consists of a four-[[bay (architecture)|bay]] [[nave]] and [[chancel]] in one unit, north and south aisles extending the full length of the church, north and south porches, a north [[vestry]], and a west tower.<ref name=hg/> The east ends of the aisles have been converted into chapels, the south chapel being the Lady Chapel and on the north side the Jesus Chapel.<ref name=info/> The church is almost as wide as it is long.<ref name=cct/> The tower is in four stages with diagonal [[buttress]]es. The bottom stage is open to the north and south, providing a passage for processions; the west arch is blocked.<ref name=hg/> Above this is a [[rib vault]] decorated with twelve carved [[boss (architecture)|bosses]].<ref name=nhct/> Over the west arch is a three-light [[English Gothic architecture#Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] window. In the top stage are three-light [[louver|louvred]] bell openings on each side. The [[parapet]] is [[battlement|crenellated]], with corner [[pinnacle]]s and statues. Along the south wall of the south aisle are five buttresses, with three three-light windows in the eastern bays. The western bay incorporates a two-storey porch. Under the easternmost window is a priest's door.<ref name=hg/> Also on the south wall is a [[sundial]] dating from the 17th or 18th&nbsp;century.<ref name=info/> Along the clerestory are eight three-light Perpendicular windows. At the east end of the chancel is a large five-light window with [[English Gothic architecture#Decorated Gothic|Decorated]] [[tracery]], and at the east end of each aisle is a three-light window. The north porch also has two storeys. The arch over its doorway is decorated with a band of shields, and over the arch is a [[niche (architecture)|niche]] for a statue and a three-light square-headed window.<ref name=hg/>

===Interior===

[[File:St John Maddermarket, Norwich - East end - geograph.org.uk - 2038214.jpg|thumb|Interior showing the east end|alt=A church interior looking towards the altar and east window]]

At the east end of the church the altar is surrounded by a massive wooden surround, known as a [[baldachin]]. It is thought that this had been made for the church of St&nbsp;Miles Coslany in 1741 and moved into St&nbsp;John's in 1917.<ref name=nhct/> Behind the altar is a painting of the [[Last Supper]] attributed to the Renaissance painter [[Livio Agresti]]. There is another altar in the north aisle. The [[baptismal font|font]] dates from 1864, and is decorated with inlaid pieces of coloured [[marble]]. The [[pulpit]] dates from the same year. Above it is a [[sounding board]] from the 17th&nbsp;century.<ref name=info/> The revolving [[lectern]] dates from the 18th&nbsp;century, and is probably Italian. Around the church are memorials to some of the major historical personages<ref name=nhct/> including [[Joseph Stannard]] a [[Norwich School (art movement)|Norwich School]] artist of predominately marine-scenes, [[Walter Nugent Monck]] founder of the [[Maddermarket Theatre]] and to [[Margaret Howard, Duchess of Norfolk]], who died in 1563.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.norwich-churches.org/monuments/Elizabeth%20Howard/Elizabeth%20Howard.shtm| title = Lady Margaret Howard 1540-1563/4 | accessdate = 24 February 2011| publisher = Norwich Historic Churches Trust}}</ref>

The church also houses commemorations of several mayors of the City throughout the centuries including the Southerton's, Bubbin and Ralph Segram (died 1472). Segram was a merchant who became a Member of Parliament and Mayor of Norwich. He commissioned a [[rood screen]] for the church, from which two panels of painted oak are now in the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] in London. One panel depicts both [[William of Norwich]], holding a hammer and with three nails in his head, and [[Agatha of Sicily]], holding pincers and her severed breast.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77491/st-agatha-holding-pincers-and-panel-unknown/ | title=St Agatha Holding Pincers and a Breast; St William of Norwich with Three Nails in His Head (panel from a rood screen) | publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum | accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref> The other panel depicts [[Leonard of Noblac]] (holding manicles) and [[Catherine of Alexandria]], holding a sword and a book.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O131973/st-leonard-with-crozier-and-oil-painting-unknown/ | title=St Leonard with Crozier and Manacles (left panel); St Catherine with Sword and Book (right panel) | publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum | accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref>

Located semi-obscured on the south aisle of the church's west wall is [[The Layer Monument]], a marble mural monument installed 1600 commemorating local dignitary, lawyer and mayor [[Christopher Layer]]. Its pilasters exhibit four figurines, ''Pax'', ''Gloria'', ''Vanitas'' and ''Labor''. Sculpted in the art-style of [[Northern Mannerism]] they collectively utilize [[esoteric]] symbolism. The church also has identifiable associations with early British [[Freemasonry]]. A 19th century headstone in its graveyard depicts Masonic compasses along with the gnostic symbol of the [[Ouroboros]].

The church houses a significant collection of [[monumental brass|brasses]], the oldest dating from the middle of the 15th&nbsp;century.<ref name=info/> Most of the stained glass dates from the 19th and 20th&nbsp;centuries, although there are fragments of 15th-century glass in the centre window of the north aisle. The east window dates from 1870 and depicts the healing of the Centurion's daughter. In the north chapel is a depiction of the [[Annunciation]] made by [[James Powell and Sons]], and in the south chapel is a [[Tree of Jesse]] from 1916, probably by King of Norwich.<ref name=nhct/>

The two-[[manual (music)|manual]] organ was made in 1888 by [[Norman and Beard]] for St&nbsp;Peter's Church, [[Lowestoft]].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D05289 | title = Suffolk, Lowestoft, St. Peter (D05289)| accessdate = 24 February 2011| publisher = [[British Institute of Organ Studies]]}}</ref> It was moved to Norwich in 1904 and in 1913 it was rebuilt by Norman and Beard, and moved to the west gallery.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N06505| title = Norfolk, Norwich, St. John the Baptist, Maddermarket (N06505)| accessdate = 24 February 2011| publisher = [[British Institute of Organ Studies]]}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the East of England]]

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

*[http://www.norfolkstainedglass.co.uk/St_John_Maddermarket/home.shtm Norfolk Stained Glass: Photographs and details of the stained glass]

*[http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/norwichjohnmaddermarket/norwichjohnmaddermarket.htm Norfolk Churches: Photographs of the exterior and interior]

*[http://aquariumofvulcan.blogspot.com/search/label/Saint%20John%20Maddermarket Saint John Maddermarket blog]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norwich, Saint John the Baptist at Maddermarket}}

[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Norfolk]]

[[Category:Grade I listed churches]]

[[Category:Church of England churches in Norwich|Saint John the Baptist at Maddermarket]]

[[Category:English Gothic architecture in Norfolk]]

[[Category:Churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust]]

[[Category:Esoteric Norwich]]