The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

Henry VIII's break with the Church of Rome in the 1540's would have seen the removal of the shrines and ornaments. As the Reformation progressed, the altars would have been replaced by a simple communion table. The Bible became available in English and the Church still possesses Coverdale's translation of 1539, which would have been chained in a prominent place for public reading. St. John's also has a copy of Mathewe's Bible of 1537 and the Geneva Bible of 1616: these are displayed in a case in the south west corner.

During this period the income of the church would have been much reduced and this was reflected in the condition of the building. The Archdeacon's Visitations of St. John's in the sixteenth century record the poor state of the fabric. In 1561 "our chancel is unripped" (meaning without tiles). Similarly in 1565, "That the nether part of the body of the church is unrepaired. The place where the altar stood is not yet paved". Also in 1595, "The chancel is out of repairs".

The income of the vicar was probably also greatly reduced and Mary I had granted a charter in 1553, which allowed him to retain the offerings at Christmas, Easter, Whitsun and Trinity or Michaelmas. The original document has survived and remains in possession of the Church.

Visitations of this period also provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the local inhabitants. John Allen and Richard Russell were reported as breaking one of the bells with a sledge hammer, Austen Carpenter and Gilbert Wimark were admonished for brawling in the Churchyard. Parishioners also received fines for not attending Church and for not paying the Poor Rates.

A positive development was the partitioning of the south west corner of the Church to form a parish school room. This took place about 1550 and was probably the first school in Margate. This was the start of the connection between St. John's Church and education which continues to the present day with Holy Trinity and St. John's C.E. (controlled) Primary School. A schoolmaster was employed and eventually there was a permanent building opposite the Church in St. Peter's Road.

The Treasury was no longer needed for Church purposes and became the place where a number of administrative functions were carried out. It was the store for the town's supply of gunpowder and also probably the place where Poor Relief would have been dealt with. Church registers were started in 1559 and record baptisms, marriages and burials. The room is now used as the clergy vestry.

Old St John's School