St John's is Chester's oldest church and was the city's first Cathedral. Over the centuries it has undergone many changes of fortune.
In 1075 Bishop Peter of Lichfield moved the seat of his diocese to Chester and began to build a cathedral church. In 1102 the see was moved to Coventry, but St John's remained an important collegiate church. It took 200 years to build, reaching its most complete form in the late 13th century. Then it was more than twice the length of the present building. In the 14th century it was further extended to the east when three semicircular Norman apses were replaced by the chapels which are now ruined.
St John's was once dominated by a Great North West Tower which collapsed in 1881 and today only the ruined stump survives. It was replaced by a clock tower at the eastern end which was designed by the noted Chester architect, John Douglas.
After the Dissolution, St John's became a parish church and the eastern chapels and the transept were abandoned. Unable to afford the upkeep of such a large building, in 1581 the parishioners erected a new east wall, leaving the ruined east end outside the church.
The picture below shows the ruins of the original east end of the church. The include part of the Norman chancel, the 14th century Lady Chapel and two medieval side chapels.
Digital photographs
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