Mansfield St John

Features and Fittings

Chancel

Altar

The carved oak High Altar and communion rails form a memorial to the parishioners who died in the First World War and was designed and made by Messrs. Jones and Willis, of Birmingham. The total cost (including rails) was £400.

The symbols carved into the front panel of the altar are a vine, wheat, The Lamb of God, lillies and a Passion Flower.

Reredos

Detail

The columns of the reredos are of Derbyshire marble. The stonework of the reredos was carved by Mr Gudgeon – a stonemason employed on the building of the viaducts carrying the L.M.S. Railway. The mosaics were given by Mrs. Brown during the period that Canon Bartlett was vicar (1866-1881).

The two large panels depict the Archangels Gabriel and Michael; the small panels contain symbols of the Four Evangelists and monograms for Alpha, Omega and IHS.

Choir Stalls

North choir stalls

South choir stalls

The clergy and choir stalls are a memorial to the Rev. William Marples, vicar of St John’s from 1883 to 1909. They were carved by Hunstone of Tideswell, Derbyshire. Drawings of the stalls by Advent Hunstone from 1927 are held in the church archives.

The inscription reads:

To The Glory Of God
And In Memory of
WILLIAM MARPLES
M.A. Priest, for 26 Years
Vicar of this Parish, Died
January 18th 1926 aged 87 years
These Stalls were erected by
members of his family and
this congregation
The Clergy and Choir stalls were dedicated by Archdeacon
Hacking on Jan. 22nd 1928.

Reader's desk

A small brass plaque on the desk reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND AS A TOKEN OF
THANKSGIVING THIS STOOL
IS PRESENTED BY
MRS C J VALLANCE
EASTER 1921

Bishop’s Chair

The Bishop’s Chair was given by Bob and Margaret Thompson:

In loving memory of
Miss Ruth Pearson
1896 – 1997

Beatitudes Board

On the north wall of the sanctuary is a canopied niche containing a metal panel listing the eight Beatitudes.

Nave

Pulpit

The traceried octagonal pulpit is of carved oak and was given by Miss Savage in 1888. The inscription on it reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
IN MEMORY OF MARY HAGG
WHO DIED AVGVST 19 1886
AGED SEVENTY THREE YEARS

Font

The traceried panelled square font is made from Mansfield stone and was presented by Messers. Lindley and Son of Mansfield, who built the church.

There is also a portable font near the Lilley Altar; it is contained in a small wooden box with a brass plaque which reads:

In loving memory
of our parents
KATH & JIM
HOOKS

Hymn Board

To the right of chancel arch is a wooden hymn board with the following inscription on a small brass plaque:

TO THE MEMORY OF
THOMAS WEBSTER
1868- 1957.

Psalm Board

A small brass plaque on the psalm board (on the left of the chancel arch) reads:

TO THE MEMORY OF
LAURA ANN WEBSTER
1872-1923.

Pews and tables

Pews	Small tables

In 1855 the church was fitted out with open benches made from stained deal, with accommodation for 1,000 people, with half the seats free in accordance with Gally Knight’s instructions.

A small table in the nave has an inscription that reads:

A thank-offering from
Francis Hole
May 1914.

Lectern

Wooden eagle lectern installed in 1909.

The Lilley Chapel

The altar in the Lilley Chapel was originally the high altar until it was moved and re-dedicated in 1926 to the memory of Rev. W. Lilley.

There is a brass plaque on the south wall commemorating the Rev William Lilley.

In the chapel there is a sculpture of two miners. The inscription states:

Presented to St John’s Church,
Mansfield, by,
the National Union of
Mineworkers
Nottingham Area.
in recognition of the
Miners Memorial Service
18th April 2009.