Brief Historical notes on St John’s Church and Churchyard

Eastover, Bridgwater

St John’s Church[1] in the mid-1860s. The dwarf wall and railings (now lost) enclosing the churchyard are contemporary with the church. The Vicar, probably Rev J C Collins, stands on the right with his daughter. The pinnacles on the tower were added in 1887. The vestry was modelled on the Abbot’s Kitchen at Glastonbury. Houses in Blake Place are seen in the left background. Photograph by Robert Gillo of Friarn Street. BM-BTC 50E

St John’s church was to stand “near the site of the Ancient Hospital of St John” on land purchased from the Blake Charity.[2]

It was constructed largely at his own expense by the Rev. J M Capes, Balliol, Oxford, who had come under the influence of the Catholic Cardinal, J H Newman.

The architect was John Brown, surveyor of Norwich Cathedral (1805 – 1876) [3]. Built in 1845, it is in early English style, of Bath Stone with a bell tower. A spire was planned, but settlement occurred so was not proceeded with; instead pinnacles were added 1887.

The Vicarage was built to the east of the church at the same time as the church in 1845. Mr Capes left the Anglican church for Rome. It was consecrated 17 August 1846 in the presence of the Mayor and Corporation.

In 1840 the Eastover population was 3000 approximately. Rapid growth occured once the railway had arrived, and this was reflected in the number of houses. The population was 7000 by 1890.

Memorials in the churchyard

The churchyard is disused and maintained by Sedgemoor District Council. Parts provide natural habitat. Several of the trees are mature specimens. Owls now nest in them.

Three memorials are of special note.

To the north
Memorial to Eastover’s cholera victims in 1849:
“In memory of the decease of 88 persons from cholera 1849. From plague, pestilence, and sudden death, Good Lord deliver us.”
To the south
Memorial stone to the Bowen family.

John Bowen Engineer, worked for Trinity House and built lighthouses; in Bridgwater was a wine & spirit merchant, living in Friarn Place, off Friarn Street. He designed the domed and pillared Cornhill (Grade I)[4] . He published the Bridgwater Alfred, but this proved controversion, leading to a riot in Friarn Street, in 1832 [5] Designed the Cornhill building. John Bowen died in 1854.

On the same memorial is commemorated Edward Nicholson Bowen, the first child christened in St John’s Church is buried there. He was the grandson of Peter Nicholson mathematician, architect and railway engineer [6]. Other Bowen relatives are also commemorated.

In 1875, the parish purchased 4 acres of land in Bristol Road from the Trustees of the late John Bowen. This became the Bristol Road Cemetery.

Box tomb Memorial to William Baker.

William Baker lived in Fore Street and St Mary Street. Nationally-known Natural Historian and Geologist, first Secretary of Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society. Prolific letter-writer. Buried 1853 in the same gravespace as John Bowen a year later. [7] Biography of Baker by Bowen [8]. Tomb in good condition but lettering hardly decipherable.

[1]   http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=12448 accessed 16.11.12

[2]   Field H E, Dilks T B The Parish of S. John Baptist Bridgwater with some notes on the Ancient Hospital: Bridgwater Whitby, Light & Lane 1946

[3]   Jarman S G A History of Bridgwater London Eliott Stock 1889 2nd Ed Ch XXXI p212

[4]   http://www.bridgwaterscientists.org.uk/bowen accessed 16.11.12

[5]   http://www.friarn.co.uk/Alfred/riot1833/index.htm accessed 16.11.12

[6]   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Nicholson_(architect) accessed 16.11.12

[7]   http://www.bridgwaterscientists.org.uk/baker/ accessed 16.11.12

[8]   Bowen J, A Brief Memoir of the Life and Character of William Baker 1853, reprinted and in print 2012

Dr. Peter Cattermole