Church Of St John Baptist

The Church of St John Baptist is a parish church dating from 1845-46, built in the Early-English style. It includes contemporary glass by David Evans and William Wailes. The church is constructed of coursed grey sandstone with freestone dressings, and has tile roofs.

The building consists of a nave, a lower and narrower chancel, a south porch, and a west bellcote. The exterior features three lancet windows on both the north and south walls of the nave, and a large lancet with a hood mould in the west wall, flanked by clasping buttresses. The south doorway, and a blocked north doorway, both have a continuous chamfer. The south door is studded and has strap hinges. The porch is distinguished by prominent barge boards with blind quatrefoils. The gabled bellcote contains two bells in lancet openings. Chancel windows are cusped, with hood moulds incorporating head stops; single-light windows are found on the south and north walls, and the two-light east window has Y-tracery.

Inside, the nave has a four-bay, collar-beam roof with small arched braces; the chancel has a two-bay, collar-beam roof. The narrow chancel arch has an outer continuous chamfer and an inner order on round responds with moulded capitals. The walls are plastered, with ashlar present below a string course in the nave. Both nave and chancel have red and black floor tiles, visible where the carpet has been removed. Sanctuary tiles incorporate Agnus Dei and depictions of the Evangelists in lozenges.

Notable features include an elaborate, imitation Norman font with chevron and cable mouldings, a twisted roll moulding, and four figurative scenes in semi-circular frames surrounding the basin. The pulpit is designed in an Elizabethan style with Tudor-Gothic panelling. Pews dating from 1847 have plain ends with moulded edges; the choir stalls have plain ends with finials. The arcaded wooden communion rail is likely also from 1847. Chancel windows are the work of David Evans, featuring foliage patterns and scenes including Christ carrying the cross and the Ascension in the east window. The striking, colourful west window, by William Wailes and dated 1845, depicts St John the Baptist. Three other nave windows, attributed to Burlison & Grylls, are of paler colours and were added after 1918 (Good Shepherd and Dorcas) and after 1930 (Christ blessing children).

Built in 1845-46 at the expense of Dr Thomas Rowley, the church is designated at Grade II for being a well-preserved mid-19th century Gothic-revival church that has undergone few alterations, and for its fixtures and fittings, including notable glasswork and an elaborate Norman-style font.