"Although St John's Lindow can boast no great architectural beauty or historic interest, it has a quiet beauty and dignity of its own, and an abiding sense of the devotion of those who caused it to be built, and of the succeeding generations of Lindow folk who have worshipped within its walls."
Marcus W. Wigram
St John's Vicarage
June 1977
In April 1870, Lindow's population comprised "242 Males and 231 Females", of these "151 were Churchgoers (presumably CofE), 127 Wesleyans and Methodists, 77 Baptists and Independents, and 118 who had no regular place of attendance." This provided sufficient justification for the historic meeting, held early in 1872, which formed the committee to promote the building of the new church at Lindow.
The foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Chester on the 21st of June 1873, a little over a year after the inaugural meeting and by the end of 1874, the church was completed. On Saturday the 16th of January 1875, the first sermon was preached by Bishop Ryan, Vicar of Bradford.
The Church is built in the traditional Gothic style of the Victorian Period. Local stone, surmounted by a high slate roof has withstood the elements effectively over the years.
After the great war of 1914-18, a marble war memorial was installed beneath the west window. The names of the fallen in the 1939 to 45 war are inscribed above the legend 'we will remember them'. Until 1974, the porch was exposed to the elements. The weather beaten seat given in 1909 is evience of this. A pair of outer doors made of roko wood by Gibsons of Wilmslow were installed at this time and now provide welcome protection. Engraved in the stonework of the outer porch entrance is the text 'Thou God seest me' Genesis 16 v 13. above this in wrought iron relief are the initials I.H.S often taken to mean 'Jesus Hominum Salvator' Saviour of men or 'In Hac (Cruce) Salus' In this (cross) is salvation.
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