In 2004, we celebrated 125 years of worship at St John's by producing a booklet which chronicles the history of Ranmoor Church from its conception in 1877 to the present day.
The booklet is designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of our very fine Church.
If you would like to purchase your own copy, you should send a minimum donation of £3.00 (cheque please) together with an A5 size stamped addressed envelope to:
St John's Celebration Booklet
Ranmoor Parish Centre,
5 Ranmoor Park Road,
Ranmoor,
Sheffield,
S10 3GX
The name Ranmoor means 'on the edge of the moors'. This was one of the areas chosen by the Steel Barons in the second half of the 19th Century in which to build their large houses. Some of these houses are now in use as schools, flats, nursing homes and hospitals, although several have been demolished.
The first church of St John's only stood for 8 years. It burned down on New Years Day, 1887. The Tower and Spire were saved and incorporated into the present church. The first church was of similar proportions, although there were no aisles and a fine hammer-beam roof spanned the whole structure.
The present building dates from 1888. It is a very fine example of Victorian Gothic Architecture in the Decorated style. The church is 41 metres long, 18 metres wide (including the aisles) and 14 metres high. In 1888 the building cost approximately £20,000.
Outside, a strong visual impact is made by the elevated position from Fulwood Road and the fact that the Tower and Spire stand separate from the main body of the building. The Spire reaches to a height of nearly 200ft. The Floodlighting installed to celebrate the Millennium has heightened the attractiveness of the building. Set on one of Sheffield 's seven hills, the church can be seen, by day or night, from many vantage points in the south and west of the city.
The main points of interest inside are:
- the use of pale Ancaster Limestone, with some excellent stone carving
- the Triforium, which runs around the church at first floor level (usually only seen in cathedrals)
- the good quality stained glass throughout the building (half by Clayton & Bell)
- the unusual painted and panelled ceiling
All these features are enhanced by the excellent proportions of the building, giving a sense of space and height.
Today, St John's serves a suburban parish of about five and half thousand people. Our distinctive Victorian Gothic building provides an impressive setting for worship, as well as being used for concerts, and can seat up to 600 people.
Virtual Tours
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