Weight: 308 lbs Diameter: 23.25" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Pack & Chapman 1773
Dove Bell ID: 61643 Tower ID: 24423 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Wantisden: St John the Baptist
Overview
Grid reference: TM 362 532
Norman, with later addition to the tower, and Decorated and Perpendicular window insertions.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave and chancel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 131 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Norman, with later addition to the tower, and Decorated and Perpendicular window insertions.
Exterior Description
The tower of the church is built of the local coralline crag, constructed of largish blocks of stone; nave and chancel are, externally, of flint rubble but the cragstone is also used to line the interior. Roof coverings are of tiles except for the west tower, the roof covering of which is of copper. The tower has a fourteenth century west door and, above it, is a late Perpendicular two-light window; above that is a small round-headed opening proving that the major part of the tower, at least, is of Norman origin. The bell stage of the tower has, on all four sides, two-light Decorated openings with characteristically elongated quatrefoils forming the tracery heads.
The finest feature of the nave externally is the Norman south doorway with three spirited grotesque heads, two forming label stops and the third at the crown of the arch; there is an engaged shaft to the jambs on either side of the arch and the arch is of three orders. The nave window a little further east is of two lights, and of the Decorated period. Moving round the church one comes next to the chancel south wall, which has two windows, the more western having two lights and Y tracery, and the eastern window being Perpendicular, also of two lights, with the plain 14th century doorway between them. The east window is also Decorated, of three lights with a development of Y tracery. The north wall of the chancel has a narrow Norman window with a deep splay so that it shows only as a tiny slit from outside. In the nave north wall is a blocked doorway and a handsome three-light late Perpendicular brick window, probably of the early 16th century, with cinque— foil heads.
Interior
Interior Description
The most striking architectural feature of the interior is the Norman chancel arch, supportedby a single order of shafts. The arch itself is richly - moulded the middle band of moulding showing chevron ornament. To the right of the chancel arch is a squint opening through to the chancel and, on the left, a curious arrangement of two niches, a narrow one next to the chancel arch and, then a wider one with an irregularly curved head and a Perpendicular, or late Decorated, opening punched through the middle of it to make yet another squint opening. At the west the tower arch is unexpectedly tall for such a small church, effectively throwing the tower space into that of the nave.
The floor of the nave and tower is of worn bricks and pavements respectively; the walls have all retained their plaster, which is painted with a pinkish wash, and the broad soffit of the chancel arch is painted blue. On the north wall of the nave are distinct traces of wallpaintings. In the south-east corner of the nave is a rood stair, surviving more or less intact. The atmosphere of the naven appears to have largely escaped later 19th century restoration: the mediaeval pews were patched and matched in the early 19th century and form a mixture. The nave retains also its 18th or early 19th plaster ceiling and three massive mediaeval tie-beams. In the chancel, by contrast, and in its way almost equally evocative, are the patent signs of a fairly thorough 19th century restoration - a completely new open-timbered roof, rather hard geometrical tiles on the floor, and a somewhat tough and knobbly (but still effective) 19th century panelled wooden altar table and reredos. The Communion rails and stalls are also 19th century. Beneath the south-east window of the chancel is a plain stone bench-type of sedilia and, to the east of the sedilia, is a piscina which has what would appear to be a very ancient wooden shelf.
Fixtures and fittings
Brass
Brass, in stone indention sanctuary floor with inscriptionto Mary Wingfelde, died 1582; shield missing.
Organ (object)
Small hand-blown organ which looks at first sight like a harmonium, but, in fact, has small wooden pipes.
Lectern
19th Century
Pew (object)
Twelve of the pews have poppy heads, of which eight appear to be late mediaeval and four early 19th century; the wood grained and the whole much patched and matched.
Font (object)
Late 12th Century
There is a wavy moulding round the base of the bowl.
Pew (object)
At the west end of the nave is a small group of very plain early pews.
Chest
c. 18th Century
Chest, with panelled fronts and probably 18th century.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TM 362 532
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
Submit a change
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