England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Gloucester St John the Baptist

The Parish

The city of Gloucester is located in north central Gloucestershire, the city being the county town. Gloucester sits on the eastern banks of the River Severn about 110 miles west of the city of London. Gloucester is built at the crossroads of the A38 (Bristol to Birmingham) and A40 (London to Gloucester) roads. Gloucester has an ancient origin, it as a "caster" was one of the principal settlements of Roman times and the city has been in continual existence since at least the 1st century. It's situation on the navigable Severn led to growth as an inland port and market for the whole of the county. Access to resources from a wider geographical area led to growth of industries within the city beyond those associated with agriculture and the port. Gloucester is divided into 8 ancient parishes, there were more but they were absorbed into these 8. St John was the largest by population and occupies the northeastern corner of the medieval city. Gloucester is dominated by its cathedral built by the Norman conquerors and was one of England's principal cities. Gloucester maintained its status through to modern times, the building of a canal for shipping growing its port during the 19th century and the presence of major rail and road routes (the M5 motorway passes to the city's east) maintain its status as a principal settlement. Gloucester is drained by streams to the Severn, most are underground today. Gloucester is sited at around sea level to 15 metres above it, St John's stands at 14 metres. The city parishes covered just a few acres and St John would have supported a population of around 3,400 parishioners. In Domesday times the city was held directly by the King, with the exception of the Cathedral Close, it was not specifically enumerated.

The Church

St John's church sits on the city Northgate Street at its junction with St John's Lane, the church has ceased being used by the Church of England and now serves the Methodist community. Whilst there has been a church on this site since earliest times of the city today's church was built in 1734, it retained the late 15th century southwestern tower and spire and which is the only medieval fabric remaining. The 3-stafe tower has Perpendicular bell-openings and a west window in the same style, the spire was truncated in 1910 and replaced with a ball-finial. The 18th century portion is classical in style and built in ashlar and makes use of both Doric and Ionic features. The church is a typical urban one with commensurate difficulties for the photographer, it is hemmed in by neighbouring buildings with very few sight-lines except directly from the east.