Church Of St John The Baptist

SU 29 NW, 3/372,

INGLESHAM, Church of St John the Baptist

26.01.55

GV

I

Very small and attractive country church, particularly important because of its unrestored interior. Saxon core expanded probably in connection with refoundation of 1205 and with later C13 work. Restored but not altered 1888-89 by S.P.A.B. (J.T. Micklethwaite, architect; William Morris helped). Church consists of an aisled nave with south porch and western bellcote, and an aisleless chancel partly flanked on south side by a chapel. Built of rendered rubble with parapet and head spouts. Stone slate roof. Small diagonal buttresses. Traces of sanctuary belfry on ridge. Mid-late C13 double bellcote with pointed trefoiled lights and circle - not unlike south windows of east end and triple east window. Perpendicular square headed 2 light window to south aisle (south-east window a C17 insertion). North door also C15 though earlier with rounded trefoil head. Deep south porch, possibly C16, with foiled niche over entrance. The south door with roll mould and strap imposts is probably Saxon or late C11 (reset).

The INTERIOR is specially interesting with numerous C14/C15 parclose screens, high box pews (mostly cut down in C17) and C13 smart foiled rere-arches to north door and east window. Tall arcades with trumpet and stiff leaf caps (this goes with date of refounding though south arcade in part older). Very important late Saxon Madonna and child relief now set into wall of south chapel but formerly outside (see scratch dial on it; further reading Kendrick). Remains of wall painting especially to chancel arch (probably early-mid C14) and fragments of stained glass. C15 font. In chancel: 3-bay sedilia, one aumbry, a foiled piscina and two arched recesses and part of reredos in sanctuary. Also C17 communion rails and table (remodelled). Medieval north door with long strap hinges. Pulpit and tester circa 1630. Tournai marble slab with circa 1300 knight in chancel, lacks brass. Single-framed chancel roof with tie beams possibly C13. Later mediaeval queen-post and wind-brace nave roof. The churchyard is well stocked with head stones, several with carved cherubs of C17 and C18. A number of chest-tombs mostly to south and east.

Listing NGR: SU2052498429