11/06/2026
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul inspired the design of our , St John the Baptist in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Built in 1927 in the Byzantine Revival style, the church was designed by the architect Henry Oswald Hill, on the instructions of the priest at the time, Canon Henry Chipp, who wanted to construct a new, larger Catholic church in Rochdale to accommodate the growing population and replace an existing brick church.
The Hagia Sophia, one of the most famous buildings in the world, was built in 537 as a church, later becoming a museum and now a mosque. Canon Chipp wanted St John the Baptist to emulate the Hagia Sophia’s imposing style, with a striking dome and an interior decorated with a dramatic mosaic on the theme of eternal life.
The mosaic, which surrounds the apsed sanctuary from floor to ceiling, was designed by Eric Newton and depicts Biblical stories like Noah’s Ark as well as saints, angels, animals, geometric designs and a central image of Christ. Tiles from Venice and glass from France were brought in, and the mosaic was installed by local craftspeople and completed in the early 1930s.
In 2022, St John the Baptist received a grant from the National Churches Trust for urgent repairs to their roof and dome, helping to keep this beautiful church open and thriving at the heart of its community.
Find out more about this church: https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/rochdale-st-john-baptist
📸 1 © Tim Green (CC BY-SA 2.0)
📸 2 © Ridiculopathy (CC0 1.0)
📸 3, 4 © Fiona Moate
St.John The Baptist RC Church, Rochdale
