St John the Baptist Church in Hartford

St John the Baptist Church is an Anglican parish church located in the village of Hartford, Cheshire. Built in buff sandstone with red sandstone dressings and a red tile roof, the church was designed by John Douglas. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 29 October 1873, and it was consecrated by William Jacobson, Bishop of Chester, on 24 June 1875. At the time of consecration, the church consisted of the chancel and nave with their porches and the foundations of the tower.

The tower, also designed by John Douglas, was added and dedicated by William Stubbs, Bishop of Chester, on 14 April 1887. Following this, a ring of six bells was dedicated in 1897. Interior features include a plaster and wooden reredos depicting the Last Supper in a Gothic gilded setting, which the Buildings of England series describes as having an interesting, primitive look. In the 1920s, a choir vestry was added to the east wall, and in 1990 the church pipe organ was replaced by an electronic organ.

In 1993 the roof was refurbished, and in 1994 the pews were replaced by chairs. Between 1997 and 1998, an extension was added to the west end to provide extra seating, toilets, and a kitchen. Today, the church remains an active parish church in the Evangelical tradition, hosting a mid-week programme, cafes, and community activities. The church hall was replaced in 2010 by St John's Church Centre, which serves both church and community groups.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons