St John's Church

St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church stands on South Parade in the south-east of Bath city centre, in the old Ham District where the Georgian architect John Wood the Elder once planned a grand forum. The church was designed by Charles Francis Hansom between 1861 and 1863 and completed with a 222-foot spire in 1867. Its walls are built of Bath stone, and the interior features circular pink granite piers with elaborate foliated capitals. The church is recognised for its striking Gothic Revival architecture and rich decorative details. Nikolaus Pevsner, the architectural critic, described it as ambitious, with a lofty tower, aisled nave, transepts and a broad polygonal apse. The interior includes polished marble, an exquisite iron screen by Hardman, glowing stained glass in the rose windows, and a white tabernacle. A shrine in the baptistery holds relics of Saint Justina of Padua, designed by Edward Joseph Hansom in 1871. Visitors find a grand interior with circular piers and ornate capitals, complemented by fine stained glass and vestments dating to the 15th century. The church also serves a living parish, with three priests including one who celebrates Mass in Polish each Sunday. Peregrine falcons nest in the steeple, and their nesting site can be watched via a public webcam. The building’s history includes wartime damage in 1942 and a later restoration that preserved its Gothic character.