Church Of St John

SZ 39 NW BOLDRE CHURCH LANE

14/8 Church of St John 8.10.59 GV II*

Parish church. Norman origins with c1200 south aisle, then north aisle, and tower, late C13 lengthening of nave and aisle, C14 chancel, 1697 tower top stage, restorations 1855 & 1918. Rubble stone, some coursed, some flint, part rendered tower with upper stage of brick and stone dressings, old plain tile roof. Plan of chancel C14 much restored with C13 south-west tower with 1697 upper half, nave Norman with c1300 south aisle and early C13 north aisle, more like a chapel, nave and south aisle extended mid C13, also possibly south porch, on north C19 & C20 vestry. Chancel has C19 Decorated 3-light east window, C20 squareheaded 3-light window to south, C19 2-light window to north. Tower has rubble plinth and C14 recessed Decorated 2-light windows, string between stages, and to south side of upper stage 2 tablets dated 1697, also near top 2 lead shutes on curly iron brackets, on each face rectangular louvred opening, topped by cornice and crenellation to parapet. Outshot south aisle has to east 2 C19 Decorated 3-light window with head in gabled dormer. Approx. central gabled porch with pointed continuously moulded door and trefoiled lancet and gable wall. To west similar C19 window. North aisle, wide under separate roof, has C19 Decorated 3-light east window and 3 north lancets with labels, and larger similar west window above C19 & C20 vestry with squareheaded windows. At west end C19 Perpendicular 4-light window above late C13 door of 3 continuous chamfered orders, undercut label and stops. Lancet on end of aisle. Inside chancel east window has C13 rere arch. Early C20 stained-glass. 2-centred chamfered arch to tower. Chancel arch pointed 2 chamfered orders dying to responds. C19 roof. Tablets marble on slate: C18 to Richard Luther, 1790 to 1801 to Bromfield family. Nave has south arcade starting as c1200 3 bays of chunk of wall piers, round arches, all slightly chamfered, then late C13 octagonal piers and double chamfered arches. To east chamfered arch to chapel under tower and remains of rood loft. Tablets c1800 to Cleaveland family. C12 3-door on spurs. North arcade 3 triple chamfered arches on round abaci on Purbeck piers. Monument: 1652 to John Kempe, alabaster tablet with demi-figure in oval recess; black columns flanking, 1804 to William Gilpin, rector from 1777 and writer, by MW Johnson. West doorway with chamfered angles. C17 floor slabs. Nave has C15 barrel vaulted roof. with moulded timbers. C15 octagonal font. Font 1876 by RN Shaw, stone and octagonal.

Listing NGR: SZ3266799453