The East End and Chancel
The glass in the East window is a replacement. The original
East window was inserted as a memorial to the wife of the Rev. T. C. Lewis
(Vicar of St. John's, 1882 - 1887), who was accidentally shot in the Vicarage
garden by her young son in 1886. The window (together with the window in the
Lady Chapel) was destroyed by enemy action on 20th March 1945, when the church
received damage from a V2 rocket, which landed on the premises of Mr. Charles
Knight, the builder, at the corner of Rectory Lane and Craybrooke Road. There
is an inscription at the bottom of the window, which reads: "This window
restored in 1951 replaces one destroyed by enemy action in 1945".
The present window was designed by Sir Ninian Comper, then
aged 86, and his "autograph" of bees are included in the window. The
window was dedicated by the Bishop of Rochester at Evensong on Whit Sunday,
10th June 1956. The south "light" of the window was restored by many
subscribers and in memory of those whose names appear in a framed parchment
erected in 1958 near the entrance to the Lady Chapel.
The marble has-relief of Leonardo de Vinci's Last Supper was
given by Henry Berens. It originally stood behind the altar in the apse of the
first church.
Prior to the building of the present chancel in 1882, the
beautiful old oak Flemish canopy over the altar stood at the West End of the
former Nave, where it formed a sort of interior porch.
Last, but not least, are the two standard altar
candlesticks. They are five feet in height and are richly and symbolically
decorated.
An amethyst is set in the base of each
candlestick. They are divided into four panels, each in beaten work. The front
panel has a cross, and round this is a thorny plant growth. In the centre of
the cross is mounted the amethyst. The second panel has an open book on which
is inscribed the opening words of St. John's Gospel - "In the beginning
was the word" (in Latin) - and behind this is a floral design of lilies.
The third panel has a crown, a wreath of laurel and palm branches, with the
letters S. J. for St. John. The fourth and back panel has roses, the flower of
England. The candlesticks were dedicated on the eve of All Saints' Day, 1910.