Before its dedication as a Children's Corner (now used as the coffee area), the West End of the North Aisle was a place where prayers had been silently said for those engaged in the Great War.
In 1930, Canon E. B. Spurgin (Vicar of St. John's from 1902 - 193 8) expressed a wish on behalf of himself and his wife, for the institution of a Children's Corner in the church, to commemorate both their 25th Wedding Anniversary and his own recovery from an operation. The Children's Corner was dedicated by the Bishop on Sunday, 19th October, 1930.
There are two stained glass windows in this area. One is in memory of Miss Gertrude Pearse, Principal firstly of the Kindergarten section of Westburton and later of Manor House School, as a tribute of affection by her old scholars and other friends. It depicts the kneeling child, Samuel, and is dated 15th October, 1929.
Another window, depicting St. Paul, was given in memory of Canon Spurgin by his wife, and was dedicated on 1St November, 1963, by Canon Webb (Vicar of St. John's from 1938 - 1964). Later, an inscription reading "and Marguerite Gladys 1880— 1975, devoted Wife and Mother" was added to this window.
It was hoped that a new stained glass window would be inserted in the blank window in this area to celebrate the Millennium, children from local schools being invited to submit designs. However, owing to the heavy demands on our financial resources, it was reluctantly decided in November 2000 that the project be abandoned.
Moving on down the North Aisle we come to the next group of three stained glass windows. The first window is a memorial to Albert Butterworth, who was organist and choirmaster at St. John's for 38 years. He died on 9th May 1932, and the window was dedicated exactly one year after his death. It portrays St. Gregory the Great and the words on the pages of the open book held by St. Gregory are - "O praise the Lord of heaven: praise Him in the height".
The middle window, depicting the Annunciation, is a memorial to Canon Webb; Vicar of St. John's from 1938 - 1965, the money being subscribed by parishioners and friends. It was unveiled and dedicated in March 1968 in a brief ceremony before Sung Eucharist in the presence of a large congregation; the Vicar (Canon Oldaker), Church Wardens and choir processing from the chancel to where the window was sited.
The third - and oldest - window in this group commemorates Leslie Collins, who fell in warfare a few months before the Armistice, and was the gift of his mother. The window was dedicated by the Vicar, Canon Spurgin, immediately after the "Silence" on Armistice Day, 1927.
Continuing down the North Aisle, we come to a group of three stained glass "war" windows. The first window is in memory of Vivian Charles Wolfe Sutton, 7th September, 1918. The middle window is in memory of Cyril James Ashton, Captain, 6th Battalion K. W. K. Regiment, who died of wounds in France, 12th March, 1891, aged 23 years. The third window is in memory of William Alfred Layton Robinson, 2nd Lieut., The Queen's R. W. S. Regiment. He was killed in action near Ypres on 26th June, 1917.
We then come to a mural tablet which came from the former church. It commemorates John Kendrick Turner, who died on 26th October, 1844, aged 30. He died only some six months after the consecration of the old church and must have been one of the first to be laid to rest at St. John's. His funeral was conducted by the first Vicar of St. John's, the Rev. S. Holmes.
The last (single) window before we come to the War Memorial Chapel, depicts St. Martin of Tours and is in memory of Capt. Percival Leggett, Captain of Worcestershire Regiment and the Gold Coast Hauses.
Part of the inscription on his window reads:
died nobly doing his duty for Queen and Country, 29th June, 1900, aged 35 years.
He was buried at Takroasi, West Africa.