| 1755 |
|
Act of Parliament for "Erecting and Building
a New Chapel. . . In Wolverhampton. . . a large and populous
trading place. . ." Money raised by public subscription,
augmented by a gift of £1,000 from Lord Stamford, who became
Patron. The New Chapel, dedicated to St. John the
Evangelist, built by Roger Eykyn, of Wolverhampton, working
under the supervision of William Baker, of Audlem, Cheshire.
|
| 1758 |
|
Church damaged by fire. Money for repairs
raised by Brief. The response to the appeal was so great
that a Spire was added. This was not, it seems, part of the
original design. Eykyn's other church, St. Paul's,
Birmingham (1776) was first built without a spire.
|
|
26th June
1760 |
|
St. John's consecrated by the Bishop of
Lichfield and Coventry. A London Newspaper "The Public
Ledger" commented on "the decency and good order" of the
people present. The Rev. Benjamin Clement, B.A., Headmaster
of Wolverhampton Grammar School, appointed first Minister.
|
| 1761 |
|
Samuel Whitehouse, of Wolverhampton, gave
the silver Communion plate, made by Thomas Whipham and
Charles Wright, London.
|
| 1762 |
|
The famous Renatus Harris organ purchased
for £500 and set up in West gallery. Opened on 18th March by
WilIiam Bond, a distinguished local musician.
|
| 1779 to 80 |
|
Embellishment of church interior. Altar
piece, by Joseph Barney, R.A. Barney was a Wolverhampton
artist and Painter of Fruit and Flowers to King George III.
Royal Arms hung from West gallery, a particularly fine
example, probably the work of William Ellam, Wolverhampton.
|
| 1787 |
|
Churchyard walks laid out and planted with
lime trees.
|
| 1791 |
|
First mention of St. John's Beadle. Laced
hat, cane, staff and buckles purchased for him. With the
dog-whipper, he became one of the more important church
officials, and great expense was lavished on him by the
Churchwardens.
|
| 1802 |
|
Church clock, by Joseph Underhill, set up in
steeple. Paid for largely by proceeds of a 5d. rate.
|
1817
to 18 |
|
Church interior lit by candle lamps,
chandeliers and sconces.
|
| 1819 |
|
William Ryton, famous Japanner, of Old Hall
Works, became Church warden. St. John's had strong links
with Wolverhampton's Japan trade at this period.
|
| 1832 |
|
St. John's Schools, Cleveland Street,
opened.
|
| 1843 |
|
Robert Noyes, celebrated Staffordshire water
colour artist, died. Noyes was for many years associated
with St. John's and is buried in the churchyard.
|
| 1849 |
|
St. John's ceased to be a chapel of ease to
Wolverhampton Collegiate Church and became a parish church.
|
| 1854 to 69 |
|
First major restorations of fabric,
including renewal of roof. During the last phase of
restoration work, Drayton Wyatt, pupil of Sir Gilbert Scott,
was placed in charge. Nave interior altered to its present
form at this period.
|
| 1899 |
|
Chancel panelling erected, with Barney's
altar piece as central feature.
|
| 1905 |
|
Church first lit by electricity.
|
| 1929 |
|
Chancel altar completed. Designed by J. A.
Swann, well-known Midland church architect.
|
| 1940 |
|
Dedication of Kilby Memorial Chapel. Thomas
Arthur Kilby was Headmaster of St. John's Day School, and
Churchwarden. Most of the woodwork in the chapel was
executed by the Rev. Joseph Hartill, Vicar.
|
| 1962 |
|
Vestibule doors in West Porch dedicated, in
memory of the Rev. Robert Allen, Vicar, and Harold Fidler,
Churchwarden.
|
| 1963 |
|
New Lectern and Bible placed in church in
memory of J. C. Hastilow, Lay Reader.
|
| 1965 |
|
Altar cross and candlesticks, by J. Francis
Coote, dedicated in memory of Roger Edward Gill.
|
| 1969 |
|
Churchyard made into Hayward Memorial
Garden. Visit of H.M. Queen Mother.
|
