Location Coventry Denomination Church of England Website Church website Diocese Diocese of Coventry Founder Isabella of France Heritage designation Listed building | Country Great Britain Previous denomination Roman Catholic Church Address Coventry CV1 3AY, UK Phone +44 24 7655 2491 Archdeaconry Archdeacon of Coventry | |
 | ||
Churchmanship Traditional Anglo-Catholic (The Society) Similar Holy Trinity Church - Coventry, Bond's Hospital, St George's Church - Edgbaston, All Saints Church - Leamingt, Coventry Watch Museum | ||
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.
Contents
College of Bablake
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.
In 1393 the number of priests was 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
Parish church
The church 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. It is now in the Church of England Diocese of Coventry.
St John the Baptist Church possesses a relic of Saint Valentine of Rome, which in 2016 was displayed on the altar in a reliquary during the Mass held on Saint Valentine's Day.
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.
Present day
St John's stands in the Traditional Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England. As such, it rejects the ordination of women as priests and bishops. It has passed resolutions A and B and receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet (currently Jonathan Goodall).