Building record 11033/1 - Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist - Church

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 1/306-317 (N) (Book). SCH1389.

Church of St John the Baptist. In 1075, the see of Lichfield moved to St John's by Peter the Norman Bishop of Mercia. Building work commenced designed to turn the Saxon church into a cathedral. In 1102, Peter's successor, Robert de Lunesey, moved the see to Coventry. St John's then returned to its former collegiate status. St John's was still considered one of the cathedrals of the diocese. No bishops were enthroned or lived at Chester until after the Dissolution, but they still owned a palace near St John's and retained the title of Bishop of Chester until C16. They owned much property in the county and city and also endowments of manors, churches, glebe lands and tithes. Another monastic dedication to the Holy Cross (mentioned 1291) was possibly merged in the College of St John's. (See also source 2)

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 3/3-6 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Knowles, D & Hadcock, RN, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, /327 (Book). SCH2177.

At the Dissolution in 1547, the college consisted of 8 to 9 prebends, 7 to 10 priests and deacons and six clerks and choristers.

<4> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Parker J H 1864 lst s/2/329-46 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

Dean and canons were secular priests, not regular or monastic. Each canon occupied his own small house and the Dean a large one within the close. They were the heads of the secular or parochial clergy. Each canon usually had a parish and resided at the cathedral for only part of the year. There were vicars and minor canons to take their place at the cathedral.

<5> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /148-150 (Book). SCH3078.

<6> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /155-7 (Book). SCH394.

<7> Parker, John Henry, 1864, The Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist, Chester, Parker J H 1864 lst s/2/329-46 (Article in Journal). SCH5521.

<8> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richard R 1973 /103-110 (Book). SCH2309.

<9> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<10> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<11> Chester Archaeology, 2001, Chester Church of St John the Baptist, Tower Development 2000, Excavation and Survey, R2391 (Client Report). SCH4221.

<12> English Heritage, 2004, The Environs of Chester Amphitheatre: Preliminary Building Assessments, R3210 (Client Report). SCH6526.

<13> Chester Archaeology, 1995, Heritage Assessment of Dee House and Environs, Chester., R2685 (Client Report). SCH4794.

<14> Raikes, H (Reverand), 1852, The Church of St John the Baptist (Article in Journal). SCH5501.

<15> Scott, S Cooper (Rev.), 1892, Notes on the New West Window of the Church of St John the Baptist, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5586.

<16> Gifford and Partners, 2001, Report on an archaeological excavation and watching brief at Dee House, Chester, R2995 (Client Report). SCH4776.

<17> de Lavaux, A, 1745, Plan of the City and Castle of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH5255.

<18> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, 94/307-8 1937 (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

<19> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /164 (Book). SCH946.

<20> Jenny Wetton Conservation, 2019, St John the Baptist, Chester: Site History and Architectural Assessment (Conservation Management Plan), R4504 (Client Report). SCH9029.

An architectural historical assessment and site survey were produced in 2019 for the Church of St. John as part of an amended Conservation Management Plan, produced in 2018. The purpose of the Plan was to assess the significance of the Grade I listed church, the ruined north-west tower and their setting to inform proposals for re-ordering within the church. Accordingly, the focus of the study is the body of the church and the north-west tower, but not the eastern remains of the church, including the Collegiate Church, or the Chapter House. It discusses the history and archaeology of the building, including the architects involved in its construction. It gives an overview of the broad phases of change affecting the church and its site including:-
Foundation and Early Development, 7th or 10th Century
Building of New Cathedral, 11th Century
Provision of Additional Chapels, mid-14th Century
Falls from N.W. Tower, 15-16th Century
The Dissolution, Late 16th Century
Improvements, 17th Century
Casting of New Set of Bells, 18th Century
Construction of Further House on Site, Repair of Chancel and Installation of Organ, 18th – early 19th Century
Repairs by R.C. Hussey, 1859-66
Collapse of N.W. Tower, 1881 and Restoration Work, John Douglas 1882-86
New Organ Case by T. M. Lockwood, 1894
Extension of Warburton Chapel to form Lady Chapel, 1925
Restoration of Chapter House, 1937 and Use as Air Raid Shelter, WWII
New Boiler and Heating Pipes, 1957
Re-Design of Lady Chapel, 1970
Repairs to Roof and Improvements to Rainwater Disposal, 1978-80
Tower Development, 2000 and Repairs Early 21st Century
The site survey, supported by photographs, discusses the exterior and interior of the church, including the stained glass, fixtures and fittings.