St John the Evangelist's Church, Truro, church building in Truro, Cornwall, UK
St John the Evangelist's Church is a Grade II listed church building in Truro originally constructed in 1828 at the top of Lemon Street with a simple rectangular interior. Major renovations in 1884 introduced a curved Italian-style apse, carved wooden ceiling, organ, and stained glass windows by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The building was erected in 1828 when nearby churches became too crowded for the growing population. The most significant transformation occurred in 1884 under architect James Arthur Reeve, who completely redesigned the interior and established the church largely as it appears today.
The church takes its name from St John the Evangelist, reflected in the west window depicting his symbol, the eagle. The baptistry contains paintings showing key figures who brought Christianity to Britain, commissioned by Reverend Frank Edward Lewis and still visible to visitors today.
The church is located at the top of Lemon Street in central Truro and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should plan to come during daylight hours to appreciate the natural light through the stained glass windows and see the baptistry paintings clearly.
The organ was installed by Forster and Andrews in 1884 and enlarged in 1895 by Heard and Son, a local Truro firm, showing how local craftspeople continued to develop the building over time. The instrument remains functional today and produces its characteristic deep sound during services.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
