St John's Chapel
Ashby Road, Coleorton, Leicestershire, LE67 8FD
St John's Chapel was built in 1857 as a mortuary chapel for the extended graveyard and for local people. In the 1960s it was consecrated as a place of worship and until very recently services were held there regularly. Unfortunately the strange weather we had during 2018 resulted in some ground shifting and the walls cracking. However after expert investigation it seems that the movement has stabilised and needs no repairs to be safe.
It is a lovely chapel, quite small, but with some beautiful stained glass windows.
The Revd Francis Merewether, rector of Coleorton between 1815 and 1864, oversaw the building of the Chapel and Cemetery. A piece from the Leicester Journal 21 August 1857 describes the laying of the foundation stone for the Whitwick National School on 18 August. Lady Paula Menzies Beaumont laid the stone using the silver trowel. The article talks about Rev Francis Merewether's role in recommending schools for Whitwick and he attended the event. He was a busy man since he also attended the concecration of St John's on 27 August that same year. About Rev. Francis Merewether >>
The area of the cemetery was extended in Autumn 1903 with the Bishop consecrating the additional burying ground on 5 October 1903. The cemetery is still in use today.
The future of St John's Chapel
St John's Mortuary Chapel - A future?
Sign our Petition
Save St John’s Chapel for the Community
St John’s Chapel has served the community since it was opened in 1857; however the chapel is now in danger of being lost to the community as it is considered surplus to Church requirements and may be declared redundant. We believe every effort should be made to retain this beautiful and historic chapel as a Community Building rather than let it lapse into private hands. The cemetery will remain open and managed by the Church. If you feel the same then please sign our petition - contact enquiries@coleortonheritage.org.uk or 01530 440000
Report in Leicester Journal
4 Sept 1857
Coleorton Churches
The lancet window on the east end depicts St John full length and the two stained glass side windows commemorate Canon William Beresford Beaumont a former rector of the village. In 1911 a stained glass window was installed in memory of William Briggs, organist for 40 years, and master of Viscount Beaumont's School for 32 years; given by about 100 subscribers.
Small window on the south wall of the chapel is dedicated to Albert and Elsie Brooks dated 1962. Albert was born 1890 and died in 1954, Elsie was born 1896 and died aged 66 in 1962. Both are buried in St John's cemetery. They had children Vera and Alec.
St John's, including the stone wall that surrounds the cemetery, is Grade II listed. See the entry on Historic England site at Historic England listing 1307533 >>
Details on the Church of England faculty site >>
St John's Mortuary Chapel - A future?
St. Johns Chapel Cemetery Audit (pdf) >>
carried out by Samuel T Stewart and John MacDonald in 2013.
Wild Flowers at St John's Chapel
St John's Chapel is closed, but the cemetery is still in use and the inscriptions on headstones bear many Coleorton family names. The grounds are managed by St Mary's parish and we were pleased to see that the mowing had been delayed for a few weeks to enable beautiful wild flowers to flourish- poppies, buttercups, ox-eye daisies, coltsfoot and more.