St. John’s parish was created in 1734, when it was carved out of the parish of St. Michael to provide a third parish in the Bablake / Spon End part of western centre of Coventry where the population was increasing. This former Guild Church, Royal Chantry, dye works and prison then became for the first time since its establishment in 1344, a parish church. About a hundred years ago the church came under the influence of the Tractarian (High Church) or Anglo-Catholic tradition, which has been solidly maintained ever since. Until after the Second World War there were clusters of poor tenements and courtyards in the streets around the church, where ribbon-making and watch-making had been thriving industries.

In the 1950s much of the population was removed to new flats in Spon End. The parish was cut in two by the building of the Coventry Inner Ring Road, which left most of the population at the far side of the ring road from the church. Sisters from the Community of the Holy Name at Malvern Link did sterling work in the parish until about 1969, when they withdrew for other work elsewhere. St. John’s is constantly trying to bring the Gospel to the people of its parish, being well aware that other Christians too are sharing in this task.

St. John’s is an active member of C6 – the city centre ecumenical grouping. We have good links with Spon Gate Junior School and actively support Norton House – the Coventry Day Centre for the Homeless. People come to St. John’s from as far a field as Nuneaton, Bedworth, Kenilworth and Leamington Spa to join in our Sung Mass at 10.00am on Sundays in this beautiful mediaeval church. As a result of the decision of the Church of England to ordain women as priests St. John’s passed Resolutions A and B.

Because it was built on unstable foundations on a marshy site the nave of the church has recently been underpinned and repaired in other ways; an improved heating-system was installed at the same time. The work was all completed in May 2001. If you live in Coventry or as many of our congregation, the surrounding area, or are visiting, you will be most welcome to join us at our Sung Mass on Sundays at 10.00 am.

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