Church Of St John The Baptist

KING'S NORTON

SK 60 SE

5/63 Church of St. John the Baptist

29.12.66

GV I

Church. 1757-75. By John Wing the Younger, of Leicester, for William Fortrey, the Squire of King's Norton. Ashlar with parapetted roof. W tower with nave and chancel under one roof. In Gothic Revival style with plinth, buttresses and angle buttresses with set-offs, and the windows with ogee hood moulds and label stops. W tower of 4 stages. W doorway and various windows, quatrefoil and cusped diamond openings in lower 3 stages. 3 friezes of quatrefoils, circles with wheels of mouchettes, and cusped triangles, 4 paired 2-light bell openings, machicolated frieze, cornice frieze, openwork parapet of quatrefoils and crocketted pinnacles. A crocketted spire was destroyed by lightning in 1850. The nave has 7 2-light windows either side, with transoms and Reticulated tracery. Above is a cusped triangle frieze, an openwork parapet of quatrefoils, and crocketted pinnacles. On E end 3 windows, all with Late Geometrical tracery. Very fine interior laid out on collegiate plan and contemporary. W gallery on Roman Doric columns. 3-decker pulpit at E end-of nave with gates either side to chancel. These and communion rail in Gothick style. Carved wooden reredos. Gothick font. Box pews. Royal Arms on canvas. Clock and chiming machine dated 1765 and inscribed to Joseph Eayre of St. Neots who cast most of the bells. On N side projecting from wall a finely carved stone monument and protecting wrought iron railing. Over pedestal with inscription panel to John Smalley, died 1763, and wife, a coat of arms with broken pediment over and urn with flame finial to either side. 'Of the churches of the Early Gothic Revival this is one of the most remarkable in England ... The whole and especially the tower show a seriousness of purpose not surpassed before 1800.... The interior is wonderfully complete and unchanged' Pevsner. King's Norton Parish Church guide, Leicester, 1976.

Listing NGR: SK6890500494