Bishop’s Castle was a mediaeval ‘planned town’ established by the Bishops of Hereford at the end of the eleventh century. Around 1291, a church was built on the present site. However, a more ancient east-west trackway (later a drovers’ and coach road - Kerry Lane / Stank Lane) ran along the southern edge of the town and there may have been an earlier church or chapel here. The only surviving part of the thirteenth century church is the recently restored tower. An archway and three sedilia, built into the southern wall of the churchyard were probably part of the building, as was the ancient font which still stands beside the lectern.

In 1573 Queen Elizabeth I granted a Royal Charter to the town, entitling the burgesses to elect two Members to represent them in Parliament. It was at this time that the church suffered a number of setbacks – first, a fire in 1592 which destroyed virtually the whole building apart from the tower, and the following year an outbreak of plague which claimed the lives of 174 persons. The Vicar, Rev Gwalter Stephens, declared this an act of divine retribution for the burgesses’ decision to allow a market to be held on the Sabbath.

In the Civil War, Bishop’s Castle, though generally Royalist in sympathy, took the expedient measure of arming its citizens as vigilantes (Clubmen), to defend the town against all comers. The church, however, did not remain immune from the conflict. In 1644 a Royalist Vicar, Rev. Gervase Needham was ejected for his sympathies – the carved bust in the South Transept of the church is believed to be his portrait. The next year the church was used for military purposes by the Parliamentarians and was burned by the Royalists.

The new seventeenth century church, still with its mediaeval tower, is said to have had galleries in each transept and a musicians’ gallery on the west wall. However, by the mid-nineteenth century it had become very dilapidated, and a complete rebuilding took place in 1860 (Architect T.Nicholson of Hereford). The plans included the demolition of the ancient tower and its replacement by a tall spire. Local opinion, however, prevented this act of vandalism!

The church today is a generous and well-proportioned Victorian Gothic (Early English) building. Most of its furnishings and fittings are of the nineteenth and twentieth century, but there are some earlier monuments. The chapel in the north-eastern corner of the church contains two fine Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows – one by Henry Holiday. The west end of the church is an open social area, used for refreshments after services, for meetings, and for exhibitions. The building is regularly used for concerts, displays and community events.

The tower houses a peal of six bells, dating from the eighteenth century, an unusual clock, and a painted red line where choristers are said to have played a game of Fives. In the churchyard there are some fine tombstones (see Register in church) including the Slave’s Grave (‘a native of Africa’) and that of a Napoleonic Colonel, who was a prisoner of war here.

St John’s Church today is the principal church of The Ridgway Benefice. It has a strong and lively congregation and plays a full and active role in the town community. Family services are held at 11.00 a.m. each Sunday, there is a Junior Church, and a Mothers’ Union, and members of the congregation are active in support of charities, national and international.

The church has for some years been undertaking a ‘Re-Pitching the Tent’ project, to make its buildings more adaptable, warm, and welcoming for community use. New heating and sound systems have been installed, pews removed to create the Social Area, and a Vestry converted into a Chapel for Prayer and Meditation. Further work is planned as funds accumulate!

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