Church Of St John The Baptist

MELDON MELDON NZ 18 SW 15/97 Church of St. John the Baptist GV I Parish church. Early C13, restored 1849. Roughly-squared stone in large blocks, dressings; slate roof. Single-cell plan with C19 north vestry. Early English style. Set-back angle buttresses, one unstepped buttress on each long wall. West end: lancet window, coped gable with C19 bellcote in C13 style. South wall has studded door with C19 floral ironwork in pointed chamfered arch with moulded imposts and hood; and priest's door with similar ironwork under shouldered chamfered arch. 5 lancets, that to east of south door a C19 copy. North wall shows 3 lancets, the westernmost C19. East end has triplet of C19 lancets under C13 pointed arch with hoodmould.

Interior: C13 pillar piscina on south of sanctuary, aumbry with old wooden door further west; pointed recess, perhaps piscina, on north. North door similar to south, now opening into vestry. Chancel has Cl9 painted panelled ceiling with carved bosses.

West of south door effigy of Sir William Fenwick, d.1652, C17 ledger slabs with heraldry built into walls; elaborate C14-style mural recess on north of sanctuary is tomb of Isaac Cookson (of Meldon Park) d.1851. Minton tiles in sanctuary. Late C18/early C19 glass,with arms of local families,in several windows.

Listing NGR: NZ1194783877