Church Of St John The Baptist

Church of St John the Baptist

This is a parish church with origins dating to around 1200, though it was largely rebuilt in the later 13th century and remodelled in the early 14th century. Minor alterations were made in the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. The oldest remains are constructed of coursed rubble from circa 1200; the remainder is built of dressed stone blocks with some 18th-century brickwork added later.

The church comprises a west tower, a three-bay nave (formerly with a south aisle), a two-bay chancel, and a north-east vestry.

The west tower has two main stages of different dates, with an off-set plinth, moulded parapet string and crenellated parapet. There are north and south projections to the lower stage. The pointed west window features cusped Y-tracery with an arch that was probably renewed in the 19th century; above it is a loop with a triangular head. The bell-chamber contains paired lancet lights with a quatrefoil over them.

On the south side of the nave, bays are marked by off-set buttresses with diagonal buttresses to the corners. Early 14th-century doors and windows are set within blocked pointed arches that once formed a south arcade. The door is pointed with an elaborate moulded surround, and a 19th-century circular window sits above it. The pointed windows have Y-tracery with trefoil cusping to the light heads and quatrefoil centre pieces. A parapet string runs above a plain parapet; the lower part of the parapet dates from the same period as the blocking of the arcade. Above the easternmost window is an 18th-century square face sundial complete with gnomon.

The north side has a moulded off-set plinth and a buttress between the central and western bays. Three-light pointed windows with restored Perpendicular tracery, ogee moulded surrounds and return hood moulds are present, with a lancet at the west end.

The chancel's west bay dates to circa 1200, while the east bay is 13th century; the eaves level was raised in the 18th century. The north and south sides of the east bay have pointed two-light windows with plate traceried quatrefoils. The pointed east window has three ogee-headed lights and Decorated tracery, entirely 19th-century in execution but probably reproducing the original pattern. The south side of the west bay has a blocked lancet and a door with a semi-circular head cut from a single stone on the right, and a blocked door and square window to the left.

The 19th-century vestry has a pointed east door and a south lancet, probably re-used from an earlier phase.

Interior

The walls are roughcast. A pointed and chamfered tower arch and a wide pointed and chamfered chancel arch springing from imposts are visible. The nave and chancel roofs are probably 18th-century, featuring massive tie beams on short cantilevered beams supported by stone corbels, two pairs of purlins, a ridge piece and short stubby king-posts.

The simple 19th-century font has a cylindrical base and circular basin with moulded lip and polished limestone lining. The 19th-century pulpit is of stone, semi-octagonal in plan with Gothic-style triangular-headed and traceried panels. A 19th-century altar rail of wrought iron with foliage decoration is present, along with Commandment boards probably from the early 19th century. Good 19th-century floor tiles are laid in front of the altar.

Monuments and Memorials

Numerous incised slabs pave the chancel, dating from circa 1480 into the 17th century. Notable examples include George Curzon (died 1605); Mary Curzon (died 1612), a marble aedicule with Corinthian columns on brackets and obelisk finials above, with a coat of arms on top; Henrie Curzon (died 1639), a marble aedicule with panelled pilasters and open base pediment containing a coat of arms; Christopher Horton (died 1714), a bracketed plate with moulded cornice and obelisk embellished with a coat of arms; and Waltar Horton (died 1716), a marble aedicule with foliated brackets, Corinthian pilasters and coat of arms on top.

In the nave is a monument to Christopher Horton (died 1659), an aedicule with Corinthian columns on brackets and coat of arms over; Christopher Horton (died 1701), an aedicule with Corinthian pilasters and urns flanking a coat of arms; and Eusebius Horton (died 1823) and Phoebe Horton (died 1814), by Sir Francis Chantrey, depicting two standing women. Harriet Louise Wilmot Horton (died 1831) is commemorated with a white marble wall monument. Robert Wilmot Horton (died 1841) has a Grecian-style monument by Denman. A group of tablets by Reeves of Bath commemorates Margaret Prinsep (died 1843), Caroline Mary Prinsep (died 1842), and Frances Levett (died 1835). Additional tablets honour Rev. Samuel Holworthy (died 1838), and the Batteridge family (circa 1856).