History of the church
Rooted in the past, an icon in the present; beacon of faith to all who see it and a vibrant presence in the community in future!
St. John the Baptist Catholic church stands as a memorial to the courageous struggles of the Catholic community in Melton. It was built between 1839 and 1842, as Catholicism was just emerging from penal times, when death by torture had awaited priests and those who harboured them. The whole history of Catholicism in this area is to be found in the small church. What hopes, aspirations, sacrifices and tales of generosity would be revealed if the fabric could tell its story! It was customary to give a church the name of the patron saint of its principal benefactor, and thus “St John the Baptist” as the main benefactor was John Exton, who had previously had a secret chapel at Eastwell Hall. He is depicted in the beautiful East window.It is an early Victorian Gothic Revival building, Grade 11 listed, with plans inspired by or attributed to the famous AWN Pugin. White’s Directory of 1846 states that Pugin was the designer, though later
historians tended to the view that he designed some of the details. However, we have discovered a reference to Pugin as the designer in an official source: "The Laity's Directory" of 1839. This is a very strong indication that he had a major involvement in the design. Many original features, such as the font, the roof timbers and especially the rood screen, (unfortunately lost) are of typical Pugin design.
Situated in the heart of a bustling market town, constantly in use, the church is an icon of our community and a beacon of our faith. Many visitors remark on its beauty and its atmosphere of peace. Heritage is popular and people are attracted to old churches, perhaps searching for rootedness in an increasingly disconnected age. Many generations have brought their problems, sins, sorrows and joys to this church, and it is still used for Sunday and weekday worship, private prayer, weddings and funerals. The parish finances are healthy, the church is in an excellent state of repair, very well built, and there is no reason why it should not remain a vibrant presence in our local community for the next 200 years.
More details about the fascinating history of the building are contained in the booklet “St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray– a Short History and Guide", which is available for Kindle readers, click here: Melton's Pugin Church
If you have a different e-reader, such as a Nook or Kobo, you should just be able to go to the online store on their reader and search the title and it should come up.