Sarah Batchelor was appointed the Rector of St John’s Church a year ago. After working for 17 years as a veterinary surgeon she was ordained as a Deacon in 2022 , and a priest in 2023 and worked in West Kirby, Guilden Sutton and Plemstall before Chester. .
“Its been the most wonderful thing I’ve ever done. It’s been a real joy, but also the most challenging job I’ve ever had. Before this job I worked as a veterinary surgeon, that was challenging but this was a real other level! I absolutely love it and I can’t see myself doing anything else.” says Sarah.
St John’s was Chester’s original Cathedral. How does it feel to be custodian of such an important part of the city’s history? “Its a huge responsibility. I don’t think I realised when I took the job on how much of a responsibility it is. I feel that with a very supportive team here, who are very invested in the building and the worship, we can move forward together. It’s not just me, there are people who love this place and have loved it for generations. It’s a team effort.
“The Church was founded in 689AD, according to legend, by King Athelred. Depending on who you listen to, he had a dream he saw a white hart (deer) , and wherever he saw the white hart he would found his church! There’s a stained glass window by Trena Cox that shows this. The pillars are Norman, as you look up the architecture changes and those parts are 11th and 12th century. And then we have a Tudor roof as well. We have a great range of styles. We also have a byzantine fresco, unfortunately he’s faded , but you can still see him and he is from the 13-14th century.”
The Church has a range of other interesting features. “The organ was played at Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838 and then came up the canal to St Johns. The casing is designed by Lockwood who did the rows, and you can see the similar design features. “ The rear of the Church features the lady chapel with the unusual upright skeleton memorial to Diana Warburton, and the Church is home to a number of Anglo Saxon crosses and the stone effigy of a knight. The stained glass windows added by the Victorians show the stories from The Bible, and the history of Chester. The Church also has a small museum case with a civil war cannonball, tiles and other discoveries.
The ruined areas outside arose from the Reformation when all of the roofs were removed and the area fell into disrepair. Now they are known for the famous coffin in the wall. “We used to have a western tower, that fell down in 1881- due to damage from the Civil War. Instead or rebuilding that, I think the stones were used to build up the Groves. We have the shell of the tower remaining. “ Sarah was kind enough to take me into the ruined tower, an area not normally open to the public.
St John’s plays a big role in the community. The Church is open daily 11-3, Sundays for worship only. “We have services on Wednesday. Friday and Sundays and everyone is welcome. As a Priest I go into different nursing homes and we also have a really good connection with Grosvenor Park School, across the road.
“We have a good musical tradition, we have the St Johns Festival Orchestra, they hold a concert three times a year. We also have Wednesdays at one , a different musical concert every Wednesday lunchtime. Its a free event. There is also a small choir. We host the Vikings outside in the summer months, and the Minstrels Court was really good. We also recently hosted a sound bath event. “ The shop showcases the work of local artists and has a range of gifts from local crafters. St John’s is also a collection point for the West Cheshire Foodbank and any donations can be dropped off here.
“We are quite short on volunteers and would love to have more people helping out and getting involved. It’s a very public facing role, we get a lot of visitors that want to talk about the Church. “
Despite it’s historical significance to many St John’s remains a hidden gem. “I don’t think we get enough attention. We need signage and wayfinding and that is going through the processes. We are very different from the Cathedral, I think it feels more local with a close community, because we are such a small congregation. In the Cathedral you can be anonymous. I don’t know that we get enough footfall, I get people who say they have lived in Chester all their lives but they have never been inside. People say that to me every week. The outside doesn’t look very inspiring and we are working with the council to make it more interesting and accessible.”
Sarah has lived with her family in Chester for 15 years. “I moved from Liverpool and it took me a good six months to get used to it being smaller and much quieter. We lived in quite a rough area. Chester is small enough to get familiarised with quite quickly. I don’t think I could live anywhere else now. ” She is a season ticket holder for Chester FC ” I do a lot of weddings on Saturday as well, I try and avoid clashing with football but it doesn’t always work out!” she laughs. “I like coming into town and going to different places. I have 3 lads and we go to Storyhouse a lot. We’ve just been to Hesed Cafe on the rows. I love the city! “
Of her faith she says : “I became a Christian in my 20s. I had some mental health problems and a colleague told me some stories and I didn’t believe her so I decided to go to Church and find out for myself. After I went that one time I went on an exploring faith course and I was hooked! It wasn’t until later that I was called to ordination, and I ignored it for quite a few years because I had a career. I really enjoyed my job, I used to teach at Liverpool uni and I enjoyed working with the students, showing them how to spay a bitch or whatever we were doing. I felt there was more, it was fulfilling but not as fulfilling as this” After a period of interviews and assessment she trained for 2 years and then shadowed for a further 3 years. ” This is my first time being on my own!”
Christmas on St John’s begins on the 29th November with Advent Sunday.
“We are having a big carol service with the advent singers from Malpas and then every week within advent we have a different theme. Christmas Eve I am planning a kids service and then midnight mass. On Christmas day, maybe an 8 o clock if people want to get up that early and then a 10 o clock.”
“I spend time in here on my own, I like to pray in here, its so peaceful. I feel that this is a place where God is very close. I can’t explain it because that isn’t how God works, God is everywhere, God has been present here for generations. It always feels peaceful in here. I find that a lot of our visitors aren’t religious but they love the city and they love the Church for all sorts of reasons, the history or the archaeology.
“My favourite thing to do is just to talk to people. We have a visitors book and we get people from all over the world. We get through at least 500 candles a month. Sometimes people will come and share things that are very personal and private, and when they leave I will never see them again. And I just hope that its made a difference to them.”
For more information about the Church : St Johns Church Chester – Based in the heart of Chester
