The former church of St John the Evangelist was completed in 1891 and consecrated on 15 April of the same year. Rowland Winn was the first Lord St Oswald and it was he who gave the land to the town. The church cost £20,000 to be built. JS Crowther designed the church’s perpendicular style, William Potts and Sons of the Guilford Clock Works, Bankfield Terrace, Leeds installed the original striking clock in 1890. In 1897, they added the quarter chimes. The peal of eight bells were hung in memory of the first Lord St Oswald In 1893.
Jane Hogg (nee Bratton) who was born in 1820 in Winteringham had a lock-up selling snuff and tobacco to miners and furnace men. Winn wanted to pay tribute to local characters and, as she was well known in the area, she was selected to have her image carved in stone. Her likeness can be seen on the exterior of the building by the west entrance. At the time of building she was known as Granny Hogg, she died in 1902. Billy Hilbert is also carved on the on the same window as Granny Hogg, he lived in a little white washed cottage facing the church building site.
There were about another 10 carved stone faces which I couldn’t get to because the gates to the courtyard were closed.
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- Granny Hogg
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- Billy Hilbert
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