Church Of St John Of Jerusalem

A parish church with origins in the 12th century, significantly developed in the 13th and 14th centuries, with additions in the 16th century and later restoration. The tower was rebuilt in the 17th century and the entire building was re-roofed in 1853. The church is constructed of dressed coursed rubble with render applied to all elevations except the tower and part of the porch, with slate roofs throughout. The nave and chancel are coped at their east ends, and the building is buttressed.

The tower is diagonally buttressed and embattled, with single crocketed pinnacles of 19th-century date at the angles. It stands on a three-stage plinth with bands, chamfered to the south. The west face contains a single 14th-century arched window with two arched and cusped lights, above which is a single blocked lozenge-shaped opening. The north face has a single rectangular light and above it a recessed panel with decoratively carved surround, inscribed "New Built Ano Domi 16.2 William B.... Thomas W....". The south face has two rectangular lights. The four 12th-century bell chamber openings are decorated with chevron work: the west and north sides feature chevron to jambs and arch (the north side with chevron remaining to jambs only), while the south side has cable moulding to jambs and arch, and the east side cable moulding to the arch with chevron to the jambs and inner arches. The inner arches of the other three openings retain worn decoration. Above the south opening is a single rectangular blind panel, and below the east opening is a raised and stepped band.

The north nave contains a single segmental arched light under a flat arch, with a 16th-century window to the left featuring two arched lights under a flat arch, and a 17th-century two-light window with single ashlar mullion further to the left, also under a flat arch. The north chancel has a Caernarvon arched doorway and to its left a 14th-century window with two ogee arched and cusped lights, reticulated tracery, flat arch, hood mould and label stops. The east end, set on a plinth with a single diagonal buttress to the south, contains a single restored arched window with three arched and cusped lights, hood mould and label stops. A sill band extends beneath this window and continues under the south chancel windows.

The south chancel, set on a plinth, has two 14th-century restored windows, each featuring two ogee arched and cusped lights, reticulated tracery, hood mould and label stops. To the right of the left window is an ashlar memorial to Eliza Parker dated 1700, surmounted by an arched head flanked by decorative scrolls with entablature. To the left of this window is a single rectangular recessed blind panel. The south nave has a single restored 16th-century window with two arched lights under a flat arch, and to its left a single 14th-century arched window with two arched and cusped lights.

The gabled and coped porch with kneelers has a chamfered arched entrance with imposts and hood mould. The inner doorway dates to the 12th century and is decorated with varying worn beakheads to jambs and arch, with a hood mould featuring grotesque label stops; the door itself is 17th-century. To the right of the porch is a blocked stoup. To the left of the porch is a single 13th-century lancet, and in the narrow west wall a single blocked arched panel.

The interior contains a re-set 12th-century tower arch with jambs and voussoirs decorated with chevron and zigzag work; the arch is now blocked with a 18th-century wooden panel with doorway. The nave and chancel are divided by a 17th-century screen featuring octagonal wooden columns, three round arches and open traceried spandrels. A 17th-century circular ashlar font with pedestal stands in the church, along with a pulpit fitted with 17th-century decorative panels and tester. Late 17th-century barley sugar altar rails are further decorated with stylised leaves. Opposite the south doorway is a pew with similarly decorated balusters; the remaining pews are 18th-century box pews. Other furnishings include a decoratively carved 17th-century chest and 17th-century altar table.

The east chancel contains a fine monument to William Burnell, probably dated 1609, consisting of a large kneeling figure with sword set into a recess. The inscription beneath is flanked by single decorative fluted brackets supporting shaped urns and Doric columns with architrave, surmounted by further inscription and entablature with decorative shields. A further significant monument to D'Arcy Burnell (1774) features the inscription flanked by decorative pilasters, above which is a central pedestal decorated with a shield and surmounted by an urn. To the left of the pedestal stands a large figure of Death holding a torch, and to the right a large figure of Fame holding a portrait of Burnell.

The south chancel contains a tomb chest dated 1570 with an inset carved figure and shield above the head. In the south nave stands a monument to Mary Pegge Burnell (1815). Several floor slabs of 17th and 18th-century date remain, including one to D'Arcy Burnell (1727) in the nave, decorated with a shield surmounted by a lion. Above the chancel screen is a Royal Arms dated 1764. The south nave displays a board with script from Exodus, Chapter XX.

Historically, the site housed a camera of the Knights Hospitaller between 1199 and 1382.