Johannes de Doper

The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST consists of a chancel measuring internally 23 ft. by 13 ft., nave 40 ft. by 17 ft., north aisle 10 ft. wide, and a vestry north of the chancel. The aisle and vestry were added in 1861, up to which date the church had stood unaltered in plan since the 12th century. Larger windows had, however, been inserted, one in the south wall of the chancel at the end of the 14th century and another to the nave in the 15th. The timber tower and spire, which rise above the roof at the west end of the nave, have no distinctive features, but probably the oldest timbers date from the 15th century.

During the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Martin Sherwood, who was vicar from 1839 to 1911, the church was restored and enlarged. Besides the addition of the aisle and vestry the west wall was rebuilt in 1861 and the south porch added in 1864. The walling of the chancel is small, wide-jointed rubble work. The east window is a single round-headed light, probably original. A small round-headed light of modern stonework in the north wall is either a repair or an insertion, and in the south wall of the chancel is a two-light window under a square head. Further west is another round-headed window with modern stonework. The chancel arch has square jambs with square abaci and a three-centred arch. The modern arcade to the north aisle is of three bays with round and octagonal piers and responds. The aisle is lighted by pairs of lancet windows and the north doorway is of modern stonework in the style of the 12th century. The south window of the nave is square-headed and of two lights partly restored. The round-headed south doorway is evidently of the 12th century, but only the abaci and a few other stones are old. In the modern west wall are two lancet windows with a quatrefoil in the gable above.

The tower is supported on strong wood posts which stand in the church. Its sides are boarded and covered with lead on the west and south faces; the windows to the bell-chamber are square and luffered. The upper corners are chamfered off to the octagonal spire, which is covered with wood shingles. The roofs are gabled and have plastered ceilings.

The font, probably of the 13th century, is of a dark red sandstone with a twelve-sided bowl. The other fittings are modern.

There are three bells: the first dated 1707; the second 1636, inscribed 'Give prays to God'; the third 'Sancte Jacobpe, ora pro nobis,' with a crowned female head and a cross.

The communion plate includes an Elizabethan cup and cover paten with the hall mark of 1571.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) mixed entries 1558 to 1660 and baptisms 1661 to 1717, marriages 1661 to 1705 and burials 1661 to 1709; (ii) baptisms and burials 1718 to 1812 and marriages 1719 to 1753; (iii) marriages 1755 to 1812.