As with many aspects of the early days of the new church, written evidence of this occasion in non-existent, however fifty years later a reasonable account of the great day was compiled from personal memories.
We know for instance that the weather was not
very kind when the procession moved off from the mother chur
ch
of St Mary the virgin. One item of special note on this occasion was the
wearing of surplices by the choir, it is understood that this was the first
time the choir in Bulwell had worn such garments. On arrival at the site the
stone was blessed by Bishop Trollope, suffragan of Lincoln and ceremonially
laid by his grace the Duke of Portland.
The building work duly got underway, the church
being built of locally quarried stone in a copy of the early English style
of architecture but considerable delay was caused when early one morning the
structure above the chancel arch proved too
heavy.
The supporting pillars collapsed and the masonry came crashing to the
ground. Fortunately the workmen had not started their labours that day and
so no one was injured. The design was modified and the work was sufficiently
advanced for the consecration to take place on Thursday 9th April 1885.
During the course of this research much debate has centred on the actual centenary date, both 1982 and 1990 being suggested however the consecration date is 9th April 1885.
By the time of the
consecration, the Diocese of Southwell had been formed and the previous
links with Lincoln severed and so the act of consecration was performed by
the first Bishop of Southwell, Dr Ridding, who also administered the
sacrament
of confirmation in the afternoon. The preacher at Evensong was Canon Hole,
afterwards Dean of Rochester and the total collections of the three services
held that first day added up to the then immense sum of £297. 1s 4d. The
level of giving was not maintained however with collections during 1886
varying between 5s 5d and £1 15s 0d even on occasion dropping to as little
as 2s 11d. If these amounts seem ludicrously low nowadays it must be
remembered that expenses were correspondingly low.
The earliest recorded baptism took place on May 27th 1866 and is worthy of
mention if only for the fact that Samuel and
Anne
Durose of Adelade street had baptised no fewer than 7 members of their
family. The Church was
completed
on St. James' Day, 1890 and Reverend Cantrell saw the fulfilment of his
dream, though he died in September of the same year. The complete cost of
the building amounted to £5,000. In memory of her husband, Mrs Cantrell
donated the five beautiful coloured east windows, and also placed the
alabaster tablet in the chancel.
In 1902 a set of choir stalls were installed and dedicated to the memory of Reverend Henry Fountain. The reason for this memorial being placed in St John's is not clear. It can only be assumed that stalls were needed and as St. Johns was still the Chapel of Ease to the Mother Church, the opportunity to provide a memorial was taken. Fountain himself never had any direct connection with St John's church although he was a very popular curate of Bulwell until 1808 when he moved to Sutton Bridge Linconshire and remained as vicar of that parish until his death in 1901.
