Church Of St John The Baptist

SE 45 NE KIRK HAMMERTON CHURCH STREET (west side)

4/67 Church of St. John the Baptist 15.3.66

I

Church of St. John the Baptist. Cllth and possibly earlier, with alterations and additions early C13, 1834 and 1890-91 by Mr. H. Fowler of Durham for E.W. Stanyforth of Kirk Hammerton Hall. Large squared gritstone blocks, stone slate roof, to earliest part. Coursed gritstone, tile roof to C19 addition. Aisled 3-bay nave with south-west tower, 2-bay chancel with north vestry. Anglo-Saxon tower of 2 stages with 2-round-headed-light belfry windows with colonette. Plain projecting band below window level. Shallow pyramidal roof. Nave: south aisle, former Anglo-Saxon chancel and nave, has round-headed doorway with projecting band and imposts. A 2-light window to first cell and 2 lancet windows to the second cell, with a 3-light Perpendicular-style east window. The church of 1890-91 is composed of north aisle with 2-light windows, a 4-light west window to nave, and a 4-light chancel window all in Perpendicular style. Interior: south arcade has early C13 columns and shallow pointed arches. The north arcade has 2 octagonal pillars. The east end of the south aisle (Anglo-Saxon chancel) has early English sedilia and piscina. The walls and arch-braced roof of the late C19 parts are richly painted. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (founded 1877) advised in the restoration. The Anglo-Saxon church has been extensively described. R. Morris, 'Kirk Hammerton Church: the Tower and the Fabric', Archaeological Journal 133)(1976) pp 95-103; N. Pevsner, Yorkshire West Riding, (1967) p 290; H. Speight, Nidderdale, (1894) p 126; H.M. & J. Taylor, Anglo-Saxon Architecture (1965), Vol I pp. 361-4

Listing NGR: SE4652555524