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The Church of St. John the Baptist : Page 3

The South Porch and the Nave

St. John the Baptist Church Nave

Enter through the South porch, with its stone panelled roof and sadly disfigured statuette of the Madonna. The first impression on entering the church is of light and space. The nave is tall, the windows large, and the glass clear or tinted rather than stained. The church was fortunate that its Victorian restoration came late, in the 1880s, and was at the able hands of the Diocesan architect, J.D. Sedding, who may have designed the glazing patterns himself. He also organised the appeal for funds, we have much to thank him for.

 

The elaborately plastered nave ceiling dates from 1636, and a local man was paid ten guineas for the work. It presumably replaced a decayed wooden roof. The chancel ceiling was similarly plastered, but was replaced as part of the Sedding restoration. The North aisle ceiling retains some mediaeval painted panels, and amongst the carved bosses is the head of a Green Man, with leaves sprouting around his face.

The pews are Victorian, and the end designs include an alarmingly life-like head of St. John the Baptist on a platter.

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