The South Aisle
South Aisle, the first window we come to depicts the
adoration of the Infant Saviour by the Shepherds and the Magi. The whole window
is a memorial to the Rev. C. E. Shirley Woolmer, Vicar of St. John's from 1887
- 1902.
The centre "light" was the gift of the Shirley
Woolmer Masonic Lodge and was dedicated by The Rev. Basil E. Spurgin, (Vicar of
St. John's from 1902 - 1938 and who had, at one time, been the Rev. Shirley
Woolmer's curate) in July 1903.
The two side "lights", the gift of the
congregation and other friends, were dedicated on Sunday morning, 25th October,
1903, by the Archbishop of Maidstone, who also preached the sermon.
The citations read:
Presented by members of the congregation and other friends in affectionate remembrance of Charles Edward Shirley Woolmer, for 16 years Vicar of this Parish,
who entered into Rest on the Feast of St. Luke, 1902.
To the glory of God and the memory of the Rev. Charles
Edward Shirley Woolmer, M. A., this window is placed by the Brethren of the
Shirley Woolmer Masonic Lodge, of which he was one of the Founders and the
first Master.
The other window before the door in the South Aisle depicts
St. George and was dedicated at the Family Service on 11th September, 1966. The
window was given by way of a thank offering for the inspiration of Baden-Powell
in founding the (Boy) Scouts' Association and, in particular, for those who
formed the St. John's Troop in 1909. It was members of the Sunday School who at
that time "demanded" the formation of a Troop, and who persuaded
their teacher, Harry Hall, to take on the post of Scoutmaster. As it was the
second troop in Sidcup it was given the title of "Second Sidcup" and,
although not a controlled troop, it has always been closely connected with St.
John's.
The inscription reads:
To the glory of God this window is erected in 1966 in
gratitude for the service given by the leaders of St. John's Scouts since 1909.
The first window past the South Aisle door depicts St.
Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Musicians. As early as the fourth century she was
celebrated as one of the greatest Roman martyrs.
The wording on the window reads:
This window is dedicated to the Glory of God and the beloved
memory of Lilian Green, born November 2 1st, 1860, entered into rest February
22nd, 1899. 'She has been a succourer of many.'
There then follow three windows representing Christ as
Healer, and are in memory of Dr. Frank Shapley who died in 1899, aged
42. He had a considerable part in the building of the Sidcup Cottage Hospital
in Granville Road (where the Barnard Health Centre now stands). It is said that
he carried in his arms to the new building the blanket-wrapped patients from
the two or three cottages in Birkbeck Road, which until then had accommodated
the sick folk of Sidcup. (The United Services Club in Main Road, which was
built in the 1880s, was once Dr. Shapley's home.)
The inscription reads:
To the glory of God friends place these windows in memory of
Frank Shapley, Surgeon, who died November 15th, 1899.
Under the third of these three windows, the inscription
reads:
An offering to God's house from the Sunday School Children,
1901.
On the wall is a memorial to Thomas Henry Plaskett, who died
on 1st October, 1850, aged 77 years. He directed that he be buried at the East
Chislehurst Church. (For a short while, St. John's was known as St. John the
Evangelist, East Chislehurst.) His remains are deposited in the vault under the
church. There is a similar memorial to his wife, Charlotte Cecilia, who died in
1848. The Plasketts lived in what was known as the Manor House, which is now
the Registrar's office. Mr. Plaskett had been Chief Clerk of the Home Office,
having worked his way up to become Permanent Secretary to the Home Office at
the time of his retirement in 1849. He received a pension of £1,412 a year, no
mean figure for those times.
There are three more stained glass windows in the South
Aisle before we reach the Baptistery (now moved to the north aisle).
The left window depicts a disciple at
Joppa named Tabitha or Dorcas, who did many good works. When she became sick
and died, Peter, who was visiting nearby at the time, was sent for and found
all the widows and others weeping and showing the coats and garments which
Dorcas had made. Peter went into the room alone, where she lay, knelt down and
prayed, saying "Tabitha, arise". She opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, sat up. He gave her his hand, lifted her up,
called the people and presented her alive.
The inscription on this window reads:
In loving memory of Elizabeth Jemima Callan who died the
17th June, 1906, aged 58 years.
The middle window, which depicts the Good Samaritan, has the
inscription:
To the dear memory of Edward Layton, 25th April, 1919.
Edward Layton was a former Vicar's Warden of St. John's.
The right hand window shows Eunice, or St. Caritas, a holy
New Testament woman who, like Dorcas, was never canonised.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of Edith Pearse, August 26th, 1921. This
window is the gift of the pupils of Westburton School, Sidcup.