Church of St John the Baptist (EHER 5624)

Church possibly of 12th Century origin, but the earliest part of the present church is the base of the north arcade which dates to around 1233. The nave, south arcade and west tower are of the 14th century. The steeple was first built in the 15th century. The church was extensively restored by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1866 and again in 1952 after bomb damage in 1941. The church is constructed of iron pudding stone rubble and pebble rubble, the dressings are mainly of Reigate stone, and the roofs are tiled. Summary from record 30315: Church, C13, C14 and C15, with possible C12 origins. Extensively restored in C19 and C20. Summary from record 5625: The south chapel was added in 1837, the chancel arch was rebuilt in 1846, the church was restored in 1866-1867 (south aisle rebuilt and north porch added).

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Walls of iron puddingstone rubble, except the pebble-rubble tower. Dressings mostly of Reigate stone. The north aisle seems to be the earliest part-its base is of coursed rubble, possibly 12th century. Possibly the aisle was the early nave. In the late 13th century it was much altered and the chancel was built. The north arcade dates from around this time. The nave and a south aisle were built in the early 14th century, probably in that order. The west tower was added around the middle of the 14th century. The spire fell in 1402 and destroyed some of the roofs. In the 15th century it was restored and the north vestry added. Features and fittings: windows and window details of late 13th, mid 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, doorways of mid 14th and early 15th centuries, probably 15th century chancel roof, 15th century timbers in the vestry roof, head corbels and timbers in the north aisle roof of late 14th-early 15th centuries (the rest of the roof is of c1300), 15th century spire, indent of around 1420, 15th century gallery in the tower, oak effigies of the late 13th century and around 1300 (these are all noteworthy), 13th century niche, late 13th century painting, late 13th century piscina, 15th century seating, medieval scratchings, probably 15th century stoup, 15th century traceried panels and desk front in back of benches and cupboard in tower <1> The south chapel was added in 1837, the chancel arch was rebuilt in 1846, the church was restored in 1866-1867 (south aisle rebuilt and north porch added). The north wall of the west tower has a 16th century window and the south wall a similar one, restored in the 18th century. The bells include two of 1622, 1642. There are 17th century brasses, 17th and 18th century monuments and floor slabs. A chair incorporates a rough 16th or 17th century carving, a chest is 17th century in date. In the north aisle a funeral helm is late 16th or early 17th century. The chancel has an early 17th century painting on the south wall. The plate includes 17th century items. <1> North aisle wall of around 1300. Rest is mainly 14th century. The north aisle has an original early 14th century roof with head corbels. Painting of around 1300. Three oak effigies are late 13th-early 14th century in date-2 in the north aisle are earlier than an example in the south aisle. "They are all three remarkably different in attitude and mood, not at all shopwork" <2> This source dates the gallery in the tower to around 1600 (<1> gives medieval date). The south aisle and south chancel chapel were rebuilt in 1866 by Gilbert Scott. The plate includes 17th and 18th century items. <2> Possibly 12th century in origin. The earliest part of the present church is the base of the south arcade, around 1233. The north aisle roof is 14th century, has effigies of kings and queens of the period, probably Edwards. The armour of the oak effigies suggests a 1272-1307 date (north aisle ones earlier than that in the south aisle). They are probably of members of the St Clere family who endowed the church and built the north aisle <3> Restored after bomb damage (1941) in 1952. The gallery to the bell platform has railing of c1600-part of Jacobean altar rail removed during the Commonwealth. <3> Church shown on APs in the SMR <4> <5> Site Assessment = The oak effigies are noteworthy. <1> Photographs <4> - <9> St. John the Baptist's Church (C of E) (NAT). <10> Additional reference <11> - <15>