ST JOHN’S-IN-THE-FIELDS

The new parish of St John’s-in-the-Fields was built on a site in Hellesvean about one mile from the village of Halsetown. This was because the land nearer the centre of the village was owned by nonconformists who refused, on secretarian grounds, to sell the land for the purpose.

The church was designed by J P St Aubyn and was consecrated on 26th May 1860. James Halse’s brother-in-law, Robert Hichens, provided the endowment. Access was gained to the village with the opening of St Mary’s MissionChurch in 1878 in the former Teetotal Methodist Chapel of 1844. This is now closed. Halsetown Chapel, which opened in 1833 did not close until 1976 and is now a craft centre.