St John the Baptist Church, Coventry

The Collegiate and Parish Church of St John the Baptist is located in the Medieval area of Spon Street in the city centre of Coventry, West Midlands, England. The church is a Grade I listed building.^[1]

The College of Bablake, Coventry

The church was founded in 1344 by Isabella of France who granted the guild of St John a piece of land called 'Babbelak' for the construction of a chapel in honour of God and St John the Baptist. This was to be used for their own services, but included a chantry of two priests to sing daily mass for the royal family. The eastern part was ready for consecration on 2 May 1350.^[2]

In 1393 enabled the number of priests to be raised to nine. In the early part of the 16th century this was raised to twelve.

The college was dissolved in 1548; the priests were pensioned in sums varying from £5 6s. 8d. to £2 13s. 4d. Five of these pensioners were living in 1555.

Wardens of Bablake College

• John Norton ca. 1457
• Robert Glasmond ca. 1535

Parish Church

It ceased to be used for worship around 1590. During the English Civil War it was a prison for Scottish rebels captured after the Battle of Preston.

Later it was used as stables, then a market and a winding and dying house for cloth. In 1734 it was restored as a place of worship.^[3]

It is now in the Church of England Diocese of Coventry.

The current rector is the Revd. Paul Such.

Furnishings

The finishings are nearly all late 19th or early 20th century, influenced by the Oxford Movement, with a fine carved rood screen in late medieval style.

The south chapel has a reredos by Sir Ninian Comper with a central Crucifixion group.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St John the Baptist's, Coventry.

• Grade I listed buildings in Coventry

References