Church Of St John Baptist

The Church of St John Baptist is a parish church dating to 1795, built for Thomas Gilbert of Cotton Hall. It is constructed of red brick with an ashlar plinth and ashlar dressings, topped with a slate roof. The church is cruciform, featuring canted transeptal chapels to the east end of the nave. It comprises a two-bay nave, a single-bay chancel, and a west front with pointed windows flanking a central crenellated porch, which contains a two-leaf pointed door with Gothic panels and a circular oculus above with radiating glazing bars. An inscription stone above the porch reads: "LET Future Ages view this SACRED PLACE / And Praise the ALMIGHTY Whose directing GRACE / With HEAVENLY Zeal inspired the FOUNDERS Mind / to Erect a CHAPEL to reform Mankind." A small gabled bellcote is corbelled over the inscription stone, and the gable has crenellated parapet detailing with apex and eaves finials. The north and south fronts have large pointed windows with Gothic glazing bars, and a scotia moulded eaves band. The east front has a tall blind pointed arch recess containing a circular oculus, a central pointed doorway leading to a cellar or crypt, and set-back pointed windows, again topped with a crenellated parapet with finials.

Inside, a west gallery of oak features carved panels and foliage, with panelled pilasters framing the doorway. The plaster rib vault springs from engaged columns that frame four-centred arches to the transeptal chapels. A wooden screen in the north chapel is of Gothic design, with a six-bay arcade of cusped ogee arches, a central two-bay opening with a foliated frieze and crest, and a brattished top. A painted classical rood screen has five bays with round-headed arches springing from moulded brackets and a wide central opening, with the lower parts of the other bays panelled. Wainscotting is present in the chancel, potentially reusing box pews. Fittings include a stone font from 1871, octagonal and featuring a square panel with carved fleurons on each face of the basin; pine benches with simple poppyheads; a wooden, octagonal pulpit with traceried openwork sides; and a wooden reredos of three bays, the central bay featuring a Caernarvon arch. Monuments are present for Thomas Gilbert of Cotton Hall (died 1798) and his son, Thomas Gilbert (died 1843). Good stained glass is found in the north and south chancel windows, and the north-east nave window.