Church Of St John The Baptist

METFIELD THE STREET TM 28 SE 9/102 Church of St. John the - Baptist 29.7.55 GV I

Parish church. Medieval. Nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble with stone dressings, the nave and chancel plastered. The nave roof is clad with shingles, the chancel roof slated. Square tower, mainly of C14 date although the base may be earlier; the crenellated parapet was added in 1712. the belfy stage, which is slightly narrower, has Y-traceried openings. 4-bay nave, largely reconstructed in C15 with 2-light and 3-light windows of that date. Fine early C15 knapped flint porch with flushwork panelling across the whole facade and a crenellated parapet. Enriched entrance arch and hood mould, with leaf-carved spandrels; 2 trefoil-headed niches above. Original wooden lierne vault with carved bosses. Moulded nave doorway with medieval plank door. Early C14 chancel, heightened and refenestrated in C15; a blocked Cl4 window is visible inside. C19 wooden east window. Interior. C15 arch- braced nave roof in 8 bays with a crenellated wallplate (partly renewed) and arch-bracing beneath the ridge. The east bay is treated as a canopy of honour and has original painted decoration on boards based on the motifs for Jesus and Mary. C15 4-bay arch-braced chancel roof with C19 restoration and painted decoration. In the chancel an early C14 piscina with elongated trefoil arch. C15 piscina in nave. C15 carved octagonal font with small traces of orignal colouring: the bowl panels depict alternately lions and angels holding shields bearing a leopard, derived from the arms of Sir John Jermy who was Lord of the Manor. Part of the dado of the medieval rood screen is stored at the west end of the nave: there are traceried panels and some original colouring. C18 west gallery, enlarged in C19. At the east end of the chancel are C18 framed copies of the Lord's Prayer-and Creed. Furnishings mainly of c.1900. In the base of the tower an early C17 turret clock still in use.

Listing NGR: TM2943080325