Parish Church Of St John The Baptist

ST 78 SE SODBURY CHURCH LANE 2/46 OLD SODBURY Parish Church of St John the Baptist

II*

C12, restored, C15 tower. Norman origins. Remodelled except tower and heavily restored in 1858, probably by T. H. Wyatt (see 'Buildings of England'). In plan: West tower, Nave with north and south aisles, north and south transepts. Chancel. Projecting south porch.

Rubble. Modern reproduction stone tile roof with some Cotswold stone tiles.

Three stage tower with clasping buttresses to part of lower stage. Twin lancet windows to belfry castellated parapet with pinnacles. Restored Norman south doorway 4 bay Nave; round piers with waterleaf/trumpet capitals; round arches, easternmost bays to transepts are Early English. Windows at west end of aisles are Norman, others are Perpendicular.

Two bay C19 Chancel. Reticulated window in south transept.

Early English tower arch with short shafts on corbel heads and stiff leaf capitals. Octagonal Perpendicular font. Numerous fine monuments: In north transept 2 ogee headed tomb recesses; one with a carved wooden effigy of a knight C14; the other a stone military effigy in high relief, circa 1240.

In south transept 2 good Baroque tablets to Daniel Burcombe 1712 and 1702. Under tower a collection of finely carved C18 and C19 tablets and one, 1676 to William Sheen, with a segmental pediment and funerary symbolism.

In north aisle marble tablet to Thomas Brooke, 1813.

Numerous good examples of C18 and Cl9 table tombs in churchyard.

Listing NGR: ST7555781803