St John the Baptist Church, Knaresborough

St John the Baptist, Knaresborough
St John the Baptist, Knaresborough
St John the Baptist, Knaresborough
54°00′34″N 1°28′19″W / 54.00951°N 1.47185°W / 54.00951; -1.47185
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad Church / Central
WebsiteKnaresborough Anglican team website
History
DedicationSt John
Administration
ProvinceProvince of York
DioceseDiocese of Leeds
Episcopal areaRipon Episcopal Area
ArchdeaconryArchdeaconry of Richmond and Craven
ParishKnaresborough
Clergy
RectorThe Revd Garry Hinchcliffe

St John the Baptist Church is a parish church in the Church of England located in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. It is the largest church in the town.

History

Records of a church on this site date back to at least 1114 when records from Nostell Priory, Wakefield show that King Henry I granted the "Church at Cnaresburgh" to the canons at Nostell.[1] The church was originally dedicated to St Mary but was changed to its current name in the 16th century following reform after the English reformation. The bells were hung in 1774.

On 5 February 1952 the church was designated a grade I listed building.[2]

Clock

The current clock was built by Potts of Leeds at a cost of £164 (equivalent to £21,600 in 2023)[3] and set going in April 1884.[4]

Present day

The church is located off Church Lane close to the North bank of the River Nidd. The church was the seat of the suffragan Bishop of Knaresborough.

The parish of Knaresborough is part of the Archdeaconry of Richmond and Craven in the Diocese of Leeds.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Knaresborough St John the Baptist History".
  2. ^ Historic England. "Church of Saint John the Baptist (1293930)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Knaresborough". Otley News and West Riding Advertiser. England. 18 April 1884. Retrieved 4 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Knaresborough: St John the Baptist, Knaresborough". A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 28 June 2017.