St John the Evangelist Church, Northington Graveyard Wall Restoration Project The Graveyard Wall and the Lychgate of the current church of St John the Evangelist in Northington are listed Grade 2, in their own right. The wall is unique in that it is the only wall in the world that is capped with flint moulds and each section has clay fired windows; the shape of which has been adopted as the church logo. The wall and gate were completed in 1890. Over the last 130 years both have suffered the ravages of time. The Wall on the East side was rebuilt some 30 years ago although this does now need some maintenance. The South and North walls require maintenance and new capping. The West wall has suffered subsidence and requires to be rebuilt completely. Lastly, the Lychgate roof requires restoration and some maintenance to the upper structure. As a unique structure there are a number of technical challenges the principle one being the expansion and binding joints between the capping moulds and wall. It is likely that there will be a trial period to ensure joints are appropriate and robust for the foreseeable decades. It is envisaged that this project will be costly, technically difficult and time consuming. It is planned to start the Lychgate work in 2025 and move to completing the wall restoration by 2030
This project is costed in the region of £150k. An animataur and evaluator were recruited to enhance and report progress. The Heritage Lottery Fund generously helped fund the restoration. Perins school, Preston Candover school with the local community and Hampshire Music Trust were all involved.Please read about our historic organ in a separate section.Concerts are advertised at: www.stjohnsnorthington.org
The Roof has been completely renewed thanks to a Government Grant. Best use of the scaffolding was also made to replace the chimney and return it to its original Victorian design. Stonework around the exterior Apse and the Tower was also carried out to renew and make safe. Inside the Reredos is now lit and the counterweighted candelabra have been serviced after 130 years. The rewiring and new lighting is complete. This allows us to change the church light settings to match the occasion.In the last eighteen months a project to renovate the organ has been completed.The next major project is the renovation of the Churchyard wall - grade 2 listed in its own right. It is unique in its clay appertures and flint capping. The wall is undergoing surveys and architectural planning before permissions and grants are sought. The Lych-gate is due to be renovated in the Summer 2025.The old church area which includes the Village War Memorial, is being refurbished. The old decayed boundary wall on the West side has been refurbished. The old headstones have been placed along the bank supporting the wall on the South West corner; these were found when the War Memorial was being commissioned. Extra car parking spaces are being developed on the East side. The bank between Church Lane and the site of the former church is being replanting by the local residents.You can only really appreciate the beauty of this place and why it needs such upkeep if you come and visit. The image at the start of this section is taken from the East end of the site of the former church - the car park surrounds the former church mound and War Memorial.