Description
St John's Church was in the centre of the medieval village of Chipping Barnet, which developed to the west of the village of East Barnet where the main parish church was. Until the 1830s the area was largely woods, commonland and fields. In 1420 an earlier church at Chipping Barnet was rebuilt by the Abbot of St Albans; it became a parish in its own right in 1866. In 1870-75 a larger church was built although many of the old monuments were preserved and include the tomb of Thomas Ravenscroft (d.1630). The churchyard has been made into a garden and has grass, mature trees and seating. Barnet War Memorial, originally located in front of the church, was unveiled in 1921.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Parish Church of Chipping Barnet, Barnet Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Wood Street/High Street, Barnet |
| Postcode | EN5 4BW |
| What3Words | ///luck.lucky.legs |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Barnet |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted (church open) |
| Events | Church tower open on Saturday mornings in July & August; music recitals |
| Public Transport | Tube: High Barnet (Northern). |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2000 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Church of St John was in the centre of the old village of Chipping Barnet, which dates from medieval times and which had developed to the west of the original village of East Barnet. Chipping Barnet village, situated at the top of the hill along the route of the Great North Road had become important as a travellers' stopping point which by the end of the C18th had a number of inns and facilities for changing horses. Reputedly, St Albans is visible from the church tower. Until the 1830s the area was largely woods, commonland and fields. Chipping Barnet's church was a subsidiary to the main parish church at East Barnet. In 1420 an earlier church was rebuilt by the Abbot of St Albans, John de Moote, paid for by John Beauchamp. It became a parish in its own right in 1866 and in 1870-75 a larger church was then built to designs by William Butterfield at a cost of £16,000, adding a nave and an aisle. However, many of the old monuments were preserved and can still be seen. These include the tomb of Thomas Ravenscroft (d.1630), a huge canopied affair with a tablet to his wife and his son James who has a bust in the chapel, both benefactors to Barnet. James Ravenscroft founded Jesus Hospital almshouses for 6 poor women on Wood Street in 1679, which has initials on the gate piers surmounted by lions, so-called because Ravenscroft was a graduate of Jesus College Cambridge. Nearby Ravenscroft Park (q.v.) commemorates them.
The churchyard has been made into a garden and has grass, mature trees and seating, with some recent planting established in memory of Peter Burrows (d.1981), Sydney Clements and Jack Hasler (d.1984). Barnet War Memorial was unveiled in April 1921 by General Lord Byng. It was originally located in front of the church.
The churchyard has been made into a garden and has grass, mature trees and seating, with some recent planting established in memory of Peter Burrows (d.1981), Sydney Clements and Jack Hasler (d.1984). Barnet War Memorial was unveiled in April 1921 by General Lord Byng. It was originally located in front of the church.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ242964 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Diocese of St Albans |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | C13th; 15th |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: St John's Church. LBII: Church House |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Wood Street |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Archaeological Significance |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
In the C19th the land was owned by the Rumball family and leased for pasture, a brewery and stables, and two houses. In 1912 the brewery site was purchased by Barnet UDC, who later purchased the freehold of the Old Court House Estate in 1923. The recreation ground on the south side of the gardens opened in 1924 and Barnet Bowls Club was founded here in 1926. The park was formally laid out with an ornamental pond, rockery, shrub and flower beds, and a fine variety of specimen trees.
James Ravenscroft, an important benefactor of Barnet like his father Thomas, founded Jesus Hospital almshouses for 6 poor widowed women in 1679, so-called because Ravenscroft was a graduate of Jesus College Cambridge. The almshouses have a pleasant front garden with a central path from the gates, which are flanked by gate piers with inset stone plaques with initials surmounted by a lion and the foundation date, a replica commemorating the 300th anniversary with the date '1979'.
Leathersellers' Close contains the Leathersellers' Almshouses and related grounds. The two wings of almshouses and the central Chapel block were built between 1838 and 1866 in the Gothic style and then rebuilt and remodelled in 1964-1966. The small Victorian lodge dates from 1859.To the south of the central path are large ornamental iron gates and, just inside the gates, a pair of decorative Victorian lampposts. The extensive grounds are mostly laid to grass and contain many fine mature trees, including several beech and holly, a tulip tree and a Monterey cypress, together with mixed shrub borders and eight standard bay trees at the sides of the central path.
