Church Of St John Of Beverley

The Church of St John of Beverley is a church largely of the early 12th century, with significant alterations across several periods. The nave and chancel date from the early 12th century, while the north wall was rebuilt and the tower added in the late 12th century, following a Scottish raid. An early 13th-century tower arch also exists. A restoration took place in 1881, during which the tower was buttressed and crenellated, re-roofed, a porch was rebuilt, the chancel roof was raised, and the east end was rebuilt. The church is constructed of squared sandstone, with a sandstone porch and reused chancel timbers. The roofs are tiled, except for the tower, which has a lead roof.

The church comprises a west tower, a five-bay nave and south porch, and a chancel. The two-stage tower features clasping buttresses, with the south-west one housing the stair. The lower stage of the tower has lancet windows to the north and south, and a 19th-century three-light west window with panel tracery. Louvred bell-openings are recessed beneath round arches on nook-shafts. A continuous string course sits below the bell-openings, beneath a crenellated parapet. The tower is topped with a pyramidal cap surmounted by a filigree cross. The gabled south porch contains a fine round-arched doorway of two orders; the inner order has a double band of beak-heads which continue down the responds. The outer order features radial masks on renewed shafts. A renewed two-light window is present to the west, and three lancets of the early and late 12th centuries to the east. An offset angle buttress is at the west end, and two pilaster buttresses are at the east end. The north wall of the nave has a plain round-arched doorway and five lancets. The chancel has a chevron-moulded, round-arched priest's door with imposts, one featuring traces of dogtooth moulding. A lancet with an incised lintel is present to the east. Later lancets with hoodmoulds are located at each end. The north wall of the chancel has two lancets with incised lintels and one lancet with a hoodmould. A mask corbel table runs along the nave and chancel, renewed in places. A 19th-century east window of three lights with panel tracery is also present. Coped gables and gable crosses are evident on the nave and chancel.

Inside, the pointed tower arch is of two chamfered orders on triple responds with tall bases and plain capitals beneath a hoodmould. The round chancel arch is of two orders of chevron moulding, on triple responds with scalloped capitals and a cable-moulded necking, and features a hoodmould of alternating pellets and pomegranates. A 13th-century iron-bound muniment chest with a 17th-century panelled cover is also present, along with a 17th-century altar table; the pulpit and lectern incorporate 17th-century carved panels. Monuments include one on the north wall of the nave to John and Mary Dowker (died 1816 and 1820 respectively), by Bennett and Flintoft of York, and another on the south wall of the nave to George Woodcock Dowker (died 1835) and his son, Henry Thomas (died 1814, aged 7), probably also by the same masons.