Weymouth: St John's gargoyles

Though I've not published any architectural posts on this blog for some time, I haven't stopped looking at the unique and unusual features I see around me, especially now that I am venturing away from home for short breaks in different locations. 

One of those locations is Weymouth, a seaside town on the south coast of Dorset, where I've mostly been enjoying the excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife that are available in the local area. However, I quickly realised that Weymouth was an interesting town that deserved more of my attention and I was delighted, when I walked along a different route to one of the local nature reserves and took a closer look as I passed this church, to notice the magnificent gargoyles adorning the side of the impressive building.

 

This is the Church of St John the Evangelist, known locally and on its own website, simply as St John's. The history section on that website says the church was built between 1850 and 1854, and has been restored several times since then, initially in 1883, again in 1960, and it underwent major work in 1985.

The church is Grade 2* listed, so there's a full description on the Historic England website. Not surprisingly for this location, just a few miles from the Isle of Portland, the church was constructed from 'coursed and square Portland stone with cream ashlar dressings'. Though the gargoyles are mentioned ('on the E side there is a large carved gargoyle figure at the outlet from the central valley to the transept' – the gargoyle pictured in the photographs above, and 'large stone gargoyles at the chancel end' - shown below), there is no explanation of their features or significance. 

Like most gargoyles, these creatures are fantastical beasts, a weird combination of human and animal characteristics that are likely just products of the stone carver's imagination but which probably also held some meaning for local Christians. Many gargoyles are thought to represent demons, others evil-doers, who have sinned and been consigned to hell fire and damnation; all are probably intended as a warning to impious members of the congregation not to the stray from the path of righteousness. Though decorative, gargoyles also have a practical function, helping to funnel rainwater away from the building to protect the masonry from damage and erosion. 

If you ever get to Weymouth for a visit, try to tear yourself away from its many seaside attractions and walk the short distance east along The Esplanade for a look at the superb gargoyles adorning the side of St John's.