Old Church Of St John Baptist

SD 44 NW PILLING SCHOOL LANE (off)

3/24 Old Church of St. John Baptist 17.4.1967 (Previously listed as Old Church of GV II* St.John Baptist ,now used as mortuary chapel)

Church, 1717 with early C19th alterations. Squared red sandstone, rendered on N., E., and W. sides, with plinth, chamfered quoins, and other dressings of grey sandstone. Slate roof. South wall of 5 bays. Windows have plain stone surrounds with semi-circular heads, keystones and impost blocks, and a central chamfered mullion. The west bay has a similar shorter window over the door, with no mullion and of a redder stone. The door has a plain stone surround with semi-circular head, imposts carved with crute Ionic volutes, and a keystone inscribed "1717". Above is a sandstone sundial plaque inscribed "Thus ETERNITY approacheth. G. Holden 1766". The east window is similar to those on the south, but with 2 chamfered mullions. The west gable has a bellcote with segmental coping, probably early C19th. The north wall is of 5 bays, probably altered in early C19th when the gallery was inserted. The lower windows have rebated and chamfered jambs and flat lintels of red sandstone. Above are lunette windows with plain stone surrounds and keystones. Interior has a flat plaster ceiling, and an early C.19th gallery on the north and west sides supported on timber Tuscan columns and with a front of raised panels in grained timber. Fixed oak benches, with a simple plank for seat and back, appear to be original. At the north-east side are 3 box pews of raised panels, one with "17 IA 19" inscribed on the door. A 2-decker pulpit has similar panelling. At the north-west of the church are 2 box pews of grained timber. The communion table is enclosed by railings with turned balusters. The C18th sandstone font is in the shape of an urn. Replaced by the new Church of St. John (q.v.) in 1887, this is an unusual survival of a small Georgian church.

Listing NGR: SD4027348477