St John's Church

The church of St John the Evangelist is a rare church as few were built during the Carolian period (the reign of Charles I - Carolus being the Latin form of Charles). St John the Evangelist was founded by John Harrison, a wealthy wool merchant in 1634AD. Harrison was well known for his acts of philanthropy and his contribution to the civic development of Leeds. Amongst his acts of benevolence Harrison built twenty almshouses between 1628AD-1634AD, and he gave land and a new building for the Town Grammar School. John Harrison and other leading merchants petitioned Charles I for a new Borough Charter and this was granted in 1626 allowing Leeds its first town council. Leeds was increasing in size and population by the beginning of the seventeenth century, and it seems it was in reaction to the growing demand for another place of worship that the building of St John the Evangelist was embarked upon.