Church Of St John Lateran

The Church of St John Lateran is a parish church, now serving as a chapel to Hengrave Hall Conference Centre. Its origins date back to at least the pre-Conquest period, with significant alterations through the 13th, 16th, and 19th centuries. The building is constructed of flint with limestone dressings and has low-pitched, metal-finished roofs. A circular tower, likely of pre-Conquest origin, is constructed of coursed flint and features a clock with an hour-hand only on its west face, alongside round-headed belfry openings.

The chancel contains late 13th-century windows, including a three-light window in the east wall and two two-light windows in the south wall. Alterations were made in the late 14th century by Sir Thomas Hemgrave (died 1419), including the addition of a restored 19th-century south porch in knapped flint with flushwork, a south nave doorway with angel finials, and a tall tower arch. In the early 16th century, Sir Thomas Kitson (died 1540) oversaw further alterations including a north aisle and chapel with large three-light windows, raising of the nave walls with flushwork battlements, the creation of two large south windows, a north arcade with clustered columns, and small clerestory windows above. Arch-braced cambered tie-beam roofs are found throughout the building, although they have been renewed or heavily restored in the late 19th century. A segmental brick rood-stair turret is situated in the south wall, possibly dating to the 15th century. The south door is plain and dates to the 15th century. A decorative, octagonal traceried font, also from the 15th century, is present. Late 13th-century wall paintings depicting St Catherine and St Margaret are visible on the south chancel window reveal. An early 15th-century painted inscription is located above the south door in the porch. Fragments of 16th-century glass are found in the aisle windows.

The church contains several significant monuments, including a canopied monument to Margaret, Countess of Bath, with her husband, John Bourchier, and her first husband, Sir Thomas Kitson; an alabaster mural monument to Lord Darcy; a table tomb to John Bourchier (died 1556), who was Lord Fitzwarren; and a magnificent tomb of Sir Thomas Kitson (son of the above), featuring effigies of himself, his two wives, Jane Pagett and Elizabeth Cornwallis. A bust commemorates Sir Thomas Gage, who resided at Hengrave Hall and died in 1741. These monuments retain much original colour and largely fill the chancel and chapel. Details of the church and its monuments can be found in John Gage’s History of Suffolk, Thingoe Hundred from 1838.