Church Of St John Of Beverley

Church of St John of Beverley, Scarrington

This is a parish church of 13th to 16th century date, substantially rebuilt in 1867 by J. H. Hakewill. It is constructed of coursed and squared rubble and ashlar with plain tile roofs, chamfered plinths and sill bands.

The church comprises a west tower with spire, nave, vestry, chancel and south aisle. The west tower dates to the early 14th century and rises in two stages. It has four corner buttresses with two setoffs, a string course, moulded eaves and parapet with four spouts. The tower is topped by a setback rockfaced ashlar spire with three tiers of cusped gabled lucarnes, a finial and wind vane. The first stage features three stair lights to the south, and to the west a doorway of early 14th century date with foliate and ball flower bands, with remains of hood mould with finial and mask stops. Above this is a 14th century double lancet. The second stage has four mid-14th century cusped ogee-headed bell openings.

The nave is of three bays, with a single buttress to the east and a lean-to shed with door in the return angle. To the left is a 16th century triple lancet with moulded Tudor arched opening and hood mould. To the right are two 19th century chamfered lancets with hood moulds, and further right again a 16th century square-headed double lancet with hood mould.

The lean-to vestry dates to the 19th century and has a chamfered lancet to the east. The chancel is of two bays with ashlar quoins and moulded sill band. The north side has a chamfered lancet to the east, while the east end has a shouldered-headed lancet in 13th century style with hood mould and mask stops. The south side has an off-centre priest's door with hood mould, flanked by single plain lancets, the right one larger than the left.

The south aisle dates to the 19th century and comprises three bays with sill band and two pairs of squat corner buttresses. The south side has three chamfered lancets, whilst the east and west ends have double lancets with hood moulds.

Internally, the tower chamber contains a 19th century timber draught screen and staircase door with timber jambs. The 14th century tower arch is double chamfered and rebated with imposts bearing moulded octagonal capitals. A traceried panelled glazed screen dates to 1960.

The nave south arcade is of early 14th century date with three bays. To the east is an octagonal pier with moulded round base, round seat and restored foliate capital, with a respond having moulded square base and capital with nailhead. To the west is a round pier with water-holding base, round seat and moulded capital, with a similar smaller respond base and capital with nailhead. The double chamfered arches have hood moulds and four mask stops. The roof contains two 16th century arched tie beams and a 19th century double tie beam, with 18th century principal rafters with double butt purlins and collars.

The south aisle east and west end windows have round shafts, hood moulds and stops, whilst those on the south side have four-centred arched heads. The eastern window contains stained glass to T. D. Readett-Bayley, signed "P and Q", 1956. The aisle has a softwood lean-to roof with arch braces on corbels.

The chancel arch is of 14th century style, restored, double chamfered, with angel corbels as imposts. The chancel north side has a recess with a round shaft and moulded 14th century lintel with mask boss on 19th century corbels, with a window to the right having shafts and hood mould. This window contains stained glass and a brass to Mary Marsh, signed "A. Hughes, London, 1870". The east end has a moulded sill band with central gable with crocketed finial. There is a dentillated gradine and alabaster reredos with relief panels and mosaic cross, flanked by foliate tile panels. The 13th century-style east window has a trefoil head, shafts, shaped hood moulds with stops and stained glass dated 1846. The south side has, to the east, a cove-moulded piscina of 13th century style with hood mould and stops. The eastern window has shafts and hood mould with stained glass of 1891, whilst a smaller window to the west has stained glass of 1870. To the right is a small chamfered aumbry. The principal rafter roof has an arch brace on corbels.

The vestry contains no distinctive architectural features.

Fittings include simply moulded matchboard benches, stalls and desks of 19th century date, a 19th century timber lectern, and a 19th century panelled softwood pulpit. The font dates to 1662 and is in poor condition, comprising a round shaft with tapered octagonal bowl, moulded rim and strapwork panels, with a 19th century cover. A disused square font with chamfered corners and chamfered tapered square shafts is also present. A 17th century communion table has heavy vase-shaped turned legs with brackets to the top rail bearing foliate panels.

Memorials include a Classical marble and slate tablet of 1829, a tablet of 1902, a marble and slate tablet with ramped top serving as a war memorial of circa 1920, an oval ashlar war memorial tablet with wreathed border of 1945, and 20th century brass memorials. Benefaction boards with moulded frames date to 1816 and the later 19th century, with one board referring to a grant for restoration in 1867.