Old Church Of St John Baptist

The Old Church of St. John Baptist is a church built in 1717, with early 19th-century alterations. It is constructed of squared red sandstone, rendered on the north, east, and west sides, featuring a plinth, chamfered quoins, and other dressings made of grey sandstone. The roof is slate. The south wall consists of five bays, with windows that have plain stone surrounds, semi-circular heads, keystones, and impost blocks, along with a central chamfered mullion. The west bay contains a shorter window above the door, made of a redder stone and lacking a mullion. The door features a plain stone surround with a semi-circular head, and the imposts are carved with crute Ionic volutes, while the keystone is inscribed with "1717." Above the door is a sandstone sundial plaque that reads, "Thus ETERNITY approacheth. G. Holden 1766." The east window resembles those on the south but includes two chamfered mullions. The west gable has a bellcote with segmental coping, likely from the early 19th century. The north wall also has five bays and was probably altered in the early 19th century when a gallery was added. The lower windows feature rebated and chamfered jambs with flat lintels of red sandstone, while above them are lunette windows with plain stone surrounds and keystones.

Inside, there is a flat plaster ceiling and an early 19th-century gallery on the north and west sides, supported by timber Tuscan columns and featuring a front of raised panels in grained timber. Fixed oak benches with simple plank seats and backs appear to be original. In the northeast corner, there are three box pews with raised panels, one inscribed with "17 IA 19" on the door. A two-decker pulpit has similar panelling. In the northwest corner are two box pews made of grained timber. The communion table is surrounded by railings with turned balusters. The 18th-century sandstone font is shaped like an urn. The church was replaced by the new Church of St. John in 1887, making it an unusual survival of a small Georgian church.