Wolverhampton St John in 1859

WOLVERHAMPTON (ST. JOHN). The living of St. Johns is a perpetual curacy; net income, £200; patron, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington. The church, which was erected at an expense of £10,000, including £1000 given by the patron, and was consecrated in 1760, is an elegant structure in the Grecian style, with a handsome tower surmounted by a lofty and finely-proportioned spire; the prevailing character is a mixture of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

A pleasing and appropriate effect is produced from the arrangement of the interior, and the altar is ornamented with a good painting of the Descent from the Cross, by Barney, a native of the town. In this church is the celebrated organ built in the 17th century, for the Temple church, London, by Harris, the competitor on that occasion of Schmidt; it was purchased for the cathedral of Christ Church, Dublin, where it remained until about 50 years ago, when it was sold for £500, and set up in this edifice, and is now in course of reparation.

 

[Description(s) from The Topographical Dictionary of England (1859) by Samuel Lewis - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]