St John the Baptist Church

Does anyone know about this great church. A lady had an etched drawing of it on her wall. She told me that during the civil war (Oliver Cromwell time) that it used to be or that's where the Coventry Prison was sited, and where the saying "sent to Coventry" came from. Bonds Hospital stands behind the church and also may have been part of the prison or site of. Does anyone else know or have heard of this before? St. John's do have their own web page. The church was used to imprison Scottish Royalist soldiers after the Battle of Preston in 1648. Just read through it all.

I think I've mentioned this before but that story surfaced around the same time St John's launched their restoration appeal fund and so is highly suspect. It might be true but there are equally plausible theories as to the origin of the phrase.

When did they launch their appeal fund, Dutchman? I heard about this link ages ago.

For what it's worth, my explanation on the history page might be useful. Like with many such phrases, there's often a hint of truth in them, but the real origin might never be known.

The 1980s Anne, and it was the first time I read of a specific link with St John's Church although the Civil War story had been around in one form or another for much longer than that. I do know that the site had some sort of religious significance long before a church was built there, possibly even dating back to pagan times. It was known as "The Bridewell".

I think the Bridewell faced the east side of the narrow thoroughfare round the Bablake churchyard and leading from Fleet Street to Hill Street. The building was located between the churchyard and Bablake school yard and a portion of the building in the quadrangle was on part of the site of it. I believe that one of the last prisoners held there was Mary Ann Higgins who poisoned her uncle William Higgins in 1831 and was condemned to death for his murder. Mary Ann was found guilty and hanged on 11 August 1831 on Whitley Common. Afterwards the body was taken back to the bridewell for dissection in accordance with the times.

Heres an interesting shot I'd not seen before - 1900 - Hill Street looking towards Fleet Street.

Which view do your prefer, Neil? That one or this from 2004?

If it weren't for Mercia House blighting the skyline I'd actually say the 2004 one The church tower looks lovely with the greenery of the trees in front of it.

I prefer the old photo, with the street built up and lined with buildings, the area is too haphazard at the moment. Oddly, I don't mind Mercia House.

I was more interested in the view of the distant buildings going up into Fleet Street.

Very saddened to read this - many of my ancestors were baptised and married here in the 18th and 19th centuries

I'm saddened to. My Mum's first marriage took place there in 1922.

Yes, it's a lovely building and very sad. I was married there in the late 70s. The one thing I do really remember about it is how cold it was because of its size. Mind you, it was the end of October