St John's in Hitchin

[rebeccaclaire86]

Hi all, think this one might need a bit of local knowledge, my googling is bringing up nothing useful!

Last year I viewed the original book of baptisms of St Mary's in Hitchin for the 1920's and 1930's, and my Nan's baptism is written down in this book as taking place at St John's.  Some googling suggests that there was a separate church in Hitchin called St John's, but then I don't understand why the registers would be under St Mary's.

The family lived on Sunny Side, and I know St John's Road is nearby, I was wondering if there was a chapel or something up there that could have been part of St Mary's?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

[Victor Harvey]

Hi,
The NBI only lists St Mary. There is NO St John.
Victor

[dawnsh]

There is a St Johns as well as St Faith and St Mark

http://joinermarriageindex.co.uk/pjoiner/genuki/HRT/Hitchin/

They are more modern churches, most probably built to accomodate the growing population

The vicar st St Mary most probably looked after the other parishes and could have entered the baptisms into one parish register as well as keeping a separate one.

(I've seen this scenario witrh some of the London parishes where there appear to be duplicate entries.)

[LizzieL]

St John's road used to be called Bethel Lane (old maps of 1880s). At the western end of the road was a mission chapel which became St Johns, possibly early 1900s when this area was developed.

See old maps web site and

https://hertfordshirechurches.wordpress.com/lost-churches/

[rebeccaclaire86]

Thanks both!  Lizzie, that one looks like it to me, many thanks for clearing that up