St. John the Evangelist, a church that was seated in Watling street, at the north east corner of Friday street; but being consumed by the fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish is united to that of Allhallows Bread street.
St. John the Evangelist, Southwark, like several other churches in the suburbs, owed its rise to the great increase of buildings and inhabitants, and is one of the fifty new churches ordered to be built by act of parliament. It was finished in 1732, and the district of Horselydown, being separated from St. Olave’s, was by act of parliament constituted its parish. The sum of 3500l. was also granted by parliament to be laid out in lands, tenements, &c. in fee simple, and as a farther provision, the church wardens are to pay him the additional sum of 60l. to be raised by fees arising from burials. Maitland.
The body of this church is enlightened by two ranges of windows, with a Venetian in the center; the tower which rises square has a balustrade on the top, and from thence rises the spire, which is very properly diminished and well wrought; but the architect having absurdly resolved to give it some resemblance to a column, has not only fluted it; but placed on the top an Ionic capital, which last gives the whole edifice an aukward whimsical appearance.
This church, which is situated near the lower end of Fair street, is in the gift of the Crown, as well as that of St. Olave’s, from whence this parish was taken. Stow.
St. John’s Wapping, situated on the north side of the street near the Thames, was built in the year 1617, when the increase of houses in the parish of St. Mary Whitechapel, rendered such an edifice necessary. It was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and as there were other churches under the patronage of the same saint, it was distinguished, from its situation, by the name of Wapping. Originally it was no more than a chapel of ease to St. Mary’s parish; but in 1694, the hamlet of Wapping was constituted a distinct parish; the inhabitants were impowered to purchase 30l. per annum in mortmain, and as a farther provision for the Rector, he was allowed to receive all ecclesiastical dues, except tithes, instead of which the Rector has 130l. a year raised upon the inhabitants by an equal pound rate. Maitland.
This church, which was built at the expence of 1600l. is a very mean building, it consisting of a plain body, a tower which scarcely deserves the name, and a spire that might be taken for a lengthened chimney. English Architecture.
The advowson of this church is in the principal and scholars of King’s hall and Brazen Nose college, Oxford.
St. John’s Westminster. The parish of St. Margaret’s Westminster being greatly increased in the number of houses and inhabitants, it was judged necessary to erect one of the fifty new churches within it; this church being finished, was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist; a parish was taken out of St. Margaret’s, and the parliament granted the sum of 2500l. to be laid out in the purchase of lands, tenements, &c. for the maintenance of the Rector: but besides the profits arising from this purchase, it was also enacted that as a farther provision for the Rector, the sum of 125l. should be annually raised by an equal pound rate upon the inhabitants. Maitland.
This church was finished in the year 1728. The chief aim of the architect was to give an uncommon, yet elegant outline, and to shew the orders in their greatest dignity and perfection; and indeed the outline is so variously broken, that there results a diversity of light and shadow, which is very uncommon, and very elegant. The principal objections against the structure are, that it is so much decorated that it appears encumbered with ornament; and that the compass being too small for the design, it appears too heavy. In the front is an elegant portico supported by Doric columns, which order is continued in pilasters round the building. Above the portico are two towers crowned with well-proportioned turrets, and adorned with columns of the Corinthian order, which are supported on pedestals, and stand free, with corresponding columns behind. English Architect.
The advowson of this church is in the Dean and Chapter of Westminster: and to prevent this rectory being held in commendam, all licences and dispensations for holding it are by act of parliament declared null and void.