Worksop St John

Features and Fittings

Chancel

The original reredos

Following the death of G. S. Foljambe in December 1869 a reredos was erected in his memory by public subscription. It was designed by the Sheffield sculptor Theophilus Smith and unveiled on 18 December 1870. White (1875) provides a detailed description of it:

'This memorial, which surrounds three sides of the chancel, consists of a reredos and an arcade of sixteen panels. The arches of the latter are moulded, and the panels are of polished Sicilian marble. The space below is filled with geometric mosaic tiles, the colour of which adds greatly to the general effect. The reredos is formed of three effectively moulded arches, cusped and supported on shafts of Belgian marble. The panels are of figured Derbyshire alabaster, the centre one containing the sacred monogram illuminated in gold and colours, while those on each side are decorated with incised symbolical devices. With each device is interwoven an illuminated ribbon, bearing the texts:—"I am the true vine,"— "I am the living bread." Immediately above the communion table are the words—"This do in remembrance of me." The reredos terminates in a crocketed gable, in the centre of which is carved a trefoil panel, emblematic of the Trinity. The memorial is Early English to harmonize in character with the style of the church.'

Straw (1969) noted that the description 'omits the fact that the panels on the North side bore the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, those on the South side the Ten Commandments.'

In 1931 oak panelling was installed over the reredos and arcade although the three alabaster niches of the reredos were left on view. The crocketed gable was also removed. The new reredos was dedicated by the Bishop of Southwell on 17 January 1932.

The reredos and oak
communion table
Detail

All three niches were covered by a curtain from the early 1980s onwards; this was probably due to the fact that they had become rather dull over the years. The decision was made only to replace the centre curtain and reveal the left and right hand niche in 2016.

In 1929 a new communion table of carved oak was given by C E Daften Esq.

Stalls in the south choir Detail of the carving
on the south choir stalls
Choir and clergy stalls were installed in 1913-14, the gift of C.A. Longbottom of Forest Hill.

Nave

Font Detail of the
carving on the font

The main section of the font consists of a sculpted white stone body with four sculpted panels depicting biblical scenes. Each corner features a stylised column with a foliate capital. The main body of the font is supported on a circular granite support, with four small columns at each corner.

The font stands on a stone base, around which is an inscription reading: 'Remembering always that baptism representeth unto us our profession which is to follow the example of our saviour Christ.' It was gifted by John Vessey Machin.

The upper section of the font features a carved wooden cover from which four wooden supports rise up to meet over the centre, finished off with a carved wooden cross. A small silver plaque on the cover reads:

THIS FONT COVER
was given by the
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHOLARS
in the year of the
CHURCH’S JUBILEE 1919

Pulpit Carving on the pulpit

The panelled pine pulpit rests on an ashlar base. The upper section of the pulpit feature carvings of a botanical pattern, complete with stylised pinecones.

 

In 1898 a new brass eagle lectern was installed, the gift of W G Hawson. The inscription on the base reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
THIS LECTERN IS GIVEN BY
WILLIAM GEORGE HAWSON
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS FATHER AND MOTHER
AD 1898

 

The wooden tower screen was gifted in 1912.

A brass plaque on the screen above the swing doors states:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF KIRK DENNIS AND MARY ANN DENNIS,
+ THIS SCREEN WAS ERECTED BY THEIR DAUGHTER, A.D. 1912 +

There are four memorial plaques fixed to the wooden panelling at the east end of the north aisle:

THIS ALTAR WAS ERECTED
BY OLD ASHLEIANS IN MEMORY OF
MR. E.A.E. LAMBERT
HEADMASTER OF ASHLEY HOUSE SCHOOL
1916 – 1937
SIMUS SINE MACULA

This corner was refurnished for the use of
St John’s Church Choir in remembrance of
ROSAMUND ELIZABETH BERTRAM
1889 – 1953
A faithful worshipper in this Church.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FRED MOXON
(1874 – 1942)
THIS PANELLING IS THE GIFT
OF HIS SON

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MARY HANNAH MOXON
(1877 – 1939)
THIS PANELLING IS THE GIFT OF
HER HUSBAND AND SON