Remarks upon the proposed destruction of the tower of the Parish Church of St. John, Hampstead

In 1874 a concerned parishioner and trained architect writes a detailed letter to the Vicar of St. John, Hampstead, about the looming fate of the church’s aging tower. The missive opens with a personal appeal, explaining why the writer feels obliged to speak up on matters that affect both worshippers and the building’s structure.

He outlines the long‑standing problems that have prompted a public call for redesign: cramped pews, intrusive galleries, an inadequate chancel, and a tower whose cracks have worried locals since the 1820s. The letter praises the trustees for inviting three architects to submit plans within a modest £6,500 budget, while also questioning whether demolition of the tower is truly necessary. Readers gain a vivid glimpse into Victorian ecclesiastical taste, civic responsibility, and the practical debates that shaped a London neighborhood’s architectural heritage.