Church Of St John The Evangelist

Church of St John the Evangelist

This is a substantial parish church of cruciform plan, combining significant 11th-century portions with later additions. The church underwent major work in the 19th century by the architect Henry Hall (1867-69) and in the early 20th century by Sir Walter Tapper (1908).

The building is constructed in ham stone ashlar with stone slate roofs between coped gables with finials; some sections have lead roofs behind parapets. It comprises a chancel of two bays, transepts of one bay each, a nave and north aisle of five bays, a north-east chapel, and a tower over the crossing.

The chancel retains features of 11th-century character, including a rough plinth, fragments of cill course, and an eaves course. It contains a single 14th-century traceried four-light east window under a pointed label with headstops, and similar three-light windows to the east bay on the south side. A tall lancet possibly of 11th-century date is also present, alongside a lower two-light long lancet style window of uncertain date. Traces of Saxon and early Norman arcading of two types survive at high level between the windows.

The south transept was rebuilt in 1842 and features 12th-century style windows in the east and west walls, and a two-light 13th-century style window in the south wall beneath a trefoil gable vent.

The nave was rebuilt and extended in 1867-69 in 15th-century style by Henry Hall, with diagonal corner buttresses and three-light traceried windows under labels with mostly foliated stops. In the second bay from the east stands a tall restored 11th or 12th-century doorway of two orders, with derivative Corinthian columns, roll mouldings to the arches, double billet moulding to the impost, and stylised chevron and billet label, with a tympanum featuring two Celtic-style animals. The west front is a copy of the 15th-century original, with an arched doorway under a square label with foliated spandrels, flanked by statue niches; above sits a five-light transomed traceried window under an arched label with angel stops, topped by a cinquefoil gable vent.

The north aisle matches the nave in style but has offset corner and intermediate buttresses terminating in pinnacles, and a plain parapet stepped up to the pinnacles. The north transept is similarly styled.

The north-east chapel extends for three bays, two matching the nave, with the east bay containing a small restored 11th-century window. In the centre bay plinth is a low four-centre arch to a crypt. The east wall has two small single lancets.

The tower is 11th-century in its lower parts. The two plain stages above roof line date mainly to the 14th and 15th centuries. The lower north stage retains traces of cill arcading and a small plain rectangular window; other faces at this level are blank. The upper stage features offsets, small corner buttresses, string courses, a crenellated parapet, corner pinnacles and gargoyles, and two-light 15th-century traceried windows with pointed labels on each face. A massive low buttress rises at the south-east corner. At the south-west corner stands an octagonal turret of Saxon or Norman character with four stages and a hipped stone roof. Circular shafts occupy the corners against the nave and south transept for two stages. The turret has a stepped plinth and string courses, the lowest of which is moulded with billet, while the second is plainer with shallow false gablets. Much of the masonry is faced with small square slabs set diamond-wise. Two circular windows face west, and a plain door faces south.

The interior contains significant medieval features. The chancel has a composite crown post and scissor truss open roof with a decorated canopy over the sanctuary by Tapper. The walls retain traces of 11th-century openings, including a cinquefoil rere-arch to the tall south lancet. A 15th-century arcade extends to the north-east chapel. In the east wall, flanking the window, are two statue recesses containing figures by John Skelton (1972). The altar was designed by Tapper.

A 15th-century chancel screen features delicate traceried panels in highly moulded frames with a foliated cornice. The north-east chapel has been remodelled but retains a 15th-century archway opening into the north aisle.

The crossing preserves primarily 11th-century work, with five circular shafts to each jamb, heavy cushion and roll bases, and highly carved bowl capitals with Celtic decoration. Semi-circular arches are retained to the transepts, while the chancel and nave arches were adapted in the 14th and 15th centuries. An elaborate 15th-century panelled roof covers the crossing.

The north aisle and nave are mainly 19th-century rebuilds. The south transept contains an arched recess with a 14th-century female stone effigy and a nearby piscina. A 14th-century stoup stands in the nave by the south door.

Fittings include a 12th-century font, a hatchment dated 1662 in the north aisle, and an east window by Bainbridge Reynolds from 1908.