1855, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk
Lowestoft chapter, page 563
The cost of the church and schools has been about £6500. Among the principle subscribers are the Rev. E. Holland, £1000 for the endowment and £50 for church; S. M. Peto, Esq., £500 for church and £200 for schools; James Gurney, Esq., £200 for church and £50 for schools; Rev. F. Cunningham, £100 for church and £25 endowment; E. L. Betts, Esq., £100; T. L. Buxton, Esq., £100; and a friend, by James Peto, £500 for the church.
The benefice is a perpetual curacy, and the Rev. Matthias H. Beaumont, B.A. is the incumbent. The church is in the style known as the geometrical decorated, or second pointed, and consists of a nave, south aisle, transepts, and chancel; with a tower which rises at the south-west angle and will be surmounted by a lofty spire. It is build to Kentish rag stone, with Caen stone dressings; and though there are many as 30 windows, all are of different designs, no two being alike.
The interior is spacious and lofty, and is neatly fitted up with stained deal sittings, stone pulpit, wainscot reading desk, &c. The roofs are open and timbered; the chancel arch is elaborately moulded; and the windows are glazed with cathedral glass, of a greenish tint. There are about 750 sittings, of which about 300 are free. J. L. Clemence, Esq., of London, was the architect of this elegant church, and Messrs. Lucas Brothers were the builders. This firm ranks among the largest building contractors in the kingdom.
Besides St. John's church they erected here the two new chapels, the Royal Hotel, the Bonding Warehouses, and many of the houses in South Lowestoft. They emplyere about 300 hands, and about 500 in London and other places.
The Independent Chapel, or "Congregational District Church," in London road, is a neat building in the Italian style, erected at the cost of £1500, in 1852, in lieu of the small chapel in High street, which was built in 1695, and is now occupied by the Wesleyan Reformers. There was a congregation of Independents here at an early period and they worshipped in a barn in Blue Anchor lane, till they built their old chapel in 1695. The Rev. Henry Moore is their present minister. The Wesleyan chapel, in Friary lane, was opened in 1776, by the Rev. John Wesley, A.M. the founder of methodism. It was enlarged in 1803, and will seat 700 hearers. It has a good organ, purchased in 1839, and attached to the chapel is a house for the minister, and a Day and Sunday School, built in 1821, and enlarged in 1828 and 1843.
The Baptist Chapel, in London road, is a handsome structure, approximating to the Byzantine style. It will seat about 500, and was built in 1852, at the cost of about £2000, in lieu of the old chapel at the north end of the town, which was built in 1812, and is now used as an infant school. S. M. Peto, Esq., contributed largely towards the expense of erecting the new chapel, which is now under the ministry of the Rev. J E. Dovey.
The Primitive Methodists have a chapel on the beach. Sunday Schools are attached to most of the three churches and five chapels in Lowestoft; and here are several large Public Day Schools, and various societies for the propagation of religion; and several valuable charities for the relief and instruction of the poor.
The Reading Room, on the Pier, has a good library and well supplied news room, supported by subscription. A Mechanics' Institution was established in 1843, and it is hoped that a suitable building will soon be erected for its use. Here is a talented Choral Society, comprising about eighty members. Mr. A. A. Suggate is the conductor, and Mr. W. Spaul, chorus master.
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