Church Of St John The Baptist

STANHOPE ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL NY 8837 38/258 Church of St. John 31.1.67 the Baptist GV II Parish church. 1752, on site of medieval chapel; chancel extended 1881-3 by Ewan Christian. Varied stone rubble with ashlar dressings;ashlar west front and tower; chamfered plinth, and quoins. Roof of graduated Lakeland slates with stone gable copings. West tower; galleried nave; chancel with north vestry. 3-stage tower, the first stage quoined and the third with angle pilasters, has 6-panelled double west door, and fanlight with radial glazing bars, in round- headed surround with key and impost blocks. Similar surrounds to windows in second stage below cornice and paired, round-headed bell openings, with painted round clock set on west pair. Side elevations have square-headed raised stone surrounds to ground-floor windows, and round-headed surrounds with key and impost blocks to gallery windows. Chancel has similar windows and round-headed south door. Most windows have broad glazing bars; (pictorial glass in some gallery windows and in east window). Gallery floor-level band. Pyramidal tower roof has slightly swept eaves; east stone cross finial. Wide stone gutter at ground level.

Interior: painted plaster above rough-rendered dado; tooled ashlar dressings. Plaster nave ceiling with central coved section between columns; wood-panelled barrel-vaulted chancel. Gallery removed. 2 tall Tuscan columns in each aisle have tooled lower sections on chamfered plinths; round, keyed chancel arch on impost blocks and pilasters; similar treatment to inner west door and blocked window above. South chancel medallion glass in memory of Rev. James Green, 1867, signed Ox and Son, London in Maltese cross. Pulpit had fielded panels and dentilled cornice on moulded stone base. Early C19 chamber organ, by Nicholson of Newcastle. Memorials include whitemarble scroll on black mount to members of Robson family, signed G. Maile and Son, Euston Road, London; brass in Gothic frame, dated 1912, to Lieutenant John Brumwell, 1785-1812, who died in the Peninsular War. C18 painted creed and commandment panels flank chancel arch, and pater board above.

Listing NGR: NY8855337937