John Churchmouse was a male mouse Recorder of Redwall Abbey. He was the husband of Mrs. Churchmouse, the father of twins, Tim and Tess, father-in-law of Mattimeo, and the grandfather of Martin II. John lived at Saint Ninian's Church with his family before relocating to Redwall, where he then became the Recorder. Later, he passed down his job to his son, Tim. He was also one of the few creatures able to read Loamscript, having been taught to do so by Methuselah.
Redwall[]
John Churchmouse had, like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, lived at Saint Ninian's Church. However, he and his family were forced to move out when Cluny the Scourge, who had recently arrived in Mossflower Woods, took up residence there. He was among the party in the Abbey cart on the night of Abbot Mortimer's Jubilee Feast that personally saw Cluny. Later, after taking up residence at Redwall Abbey, he comforted his wife, who was in tears at the thought of what Cluny and his rats would do to their home.
John was otherwise involved very little in the Late Rose Summer Wars. He did, however, become Recorder after the late Methuselah, and when his children Tim and Tess became Bellringers, he was very proud of them.
Mattimeo[]
During the summer feast, Slagar the Cruel attempted to steal the Abbey's young ones by drugging all the other residents. However, John and Friar Hugo already had full cups, and Lettie Bankvole was busy tending to her son Rollo. When the three noticed what Slagar was up to, they immediately tried to stop it. However, Lettie and Hugo were killed, and John was injured.
The next morning Matthias found John with a nasty cut in deep shock, muttering about the events he had witnessed. Matthias immediately took John to the Infirmary, where he recovered. Matthias later questioned John about the previous night. John began sobbing, and told Matthias that Slagar had stolen the young ones, including Mattimeo.
The Redwallers immediately began efforts to track down the slavers and find the young ones. John, however, was still uneasy after his injuries and decided not to participate. With Tim and Tess gone, he and Rollo were the new bellringers (Cornflower especially enjoyed this).
Later, the Redwallers discovered a stone tablet covered in Loamscript, and John was able to translate it.
It turned out that there was a stone crow at the south end of the Abbey, with a poem etched in stone. Warbeak rubbed the poem on some cloth, and John and several of the other adult mice copied it on parchment, so at least one copy would reach Matthias, Jess, and Basil.
Soon thereafter, General Ironbeak and his army of birds traveled south, and took up residence in the Abbey, threatening to slay all the Redwallers if they did not transfer the "redstone house" to them. When they captured Mrs. Churchmouse, Cornflower, and Baby Rollo, John was very distraught and attempted to get his wife, but the Abbot held him back. When the Redwallers tried to develop a plot to get the others back, John recollected the species of the birds that were with Ironbeak - Magpie. Sister May came up with a crafty plan. Quickbill, Brightback, and Diptail, three magpies who were constantly downing the fruit in the orchard, were drugged by strawberries that Sister May had sprinkled a sleeping potion on.
The Redwallers ultimately bargained with Ironbeak and his birds to have Cornflower, Mrs. Churchmouse, and Rollo returned to them.
Matthias and the others ultimately returned the young ones to Redwall, and John was reunited with his children. He later retired as Recorder, and passed the duty on to Tim.
Nelvana Redwall TV Series[]
John Churchmouse appears in both the first and second seasons of the Nelvana Redwall TV Series. He narrates the epilogue of the first season and appears with his wife as his son Tim narrates the epilogue of the second season.
During the epilogue of the first season, John claims to be Cornflower's father and Mattimeo's grandfather. This is inconsistent with the novels where Cornflower is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldmouse.
In the first episode of season two, Mrs. Churchmouse is referred to as "the mother of Tess and Tim" by Slagar the Cruel, a potential correction. In the episode To be a Warrior, Cornflower calls John Churchmouse "John" rather than "father." She also calls Mrs. Churchmouse "Mrs. Churchmouse" and not "mother." It seems implied that the writers originally made John Churchmouse Cornflower's father in the first season to give him a more definite name than the vague sounding "Mr. Fieldmouse," especially since Cornflower's father is barely mentioned in the books. However, since John Churchmouse has a bit of a more of a central role in season two, it seems this line of story telling was dropped, and the ancestry from the books was resumed to avoid confusion.
The Lost Legends of Redwall[]
John Churchmouse in The Flowers of Icetor
John Churchmouse appears in the Lost Legends of Redwall mobile game The Flowers of Icetor. The narrative occurs before Redwall.