Building record 4679/1/1 - Church of St. John The Baptist

13th-15th century, restored 1856 by E.F. Law. South aisle rebuilt 1926. Coursed squared ironstone and limestone, slate and lead roofs. Chancel nave, north and south aisles, north porch and west tower.

{1} Church. C14 and C15 with C13 origins, restored 1856 by E.F. Law. South aisle rebuilt 1926. Coursed squared ironstone and limestone, slate and lead roofs. Chancel nave, north and south aisles, north porch and west tower. 3-bay chancel has 5-light east window with unusual Decorated tracery, 3-light Perpendicular windows to north with four-centred heads, small blocked low-side window to north-west with cusped head and cut spandrels, similar Perpendicular window to south-west and two 2-light C13 windows to south that furthest east with trefoil-in-circle to head, the other with Y tracery; all have hood moulds. Another blocked low-side window to south-west with double-chamfered stone surround. Chancel has offset diagonal buttresses and offset buttresses between bays, and plain stone-coped parapet. Nave has 3-bay clerestory with 2-light Perpendicular windows and hollow-chamfered stone eaves. Large 1-light window to south-west end of nave formerly traceried. South aisle stops short of south-west bay of nave and has large 5-light window to south-east under gable with straight head, and 3-light window to south with 4-centred head; both have hood moulds. Moulded and double-hollow-chamfered south door with hood mould. North aisle has 3-light east window with straight head, wide 1-light windows to north-east and 2-light window to south-west, all with 4-centred heads and 2-light window to west with chamfered stone mullion and straight head; all have hood moulds. Double hollow-chamfered and moulded north door in porch with datestone inscribed AD1607/WB CM above hollow-chamfered doorway and 1-light windows either side with cusped heads; hood moulds to doors and windows. 3-stage west tower is banded with ironstone to lowest stage and has 2-light C19 Decorated-style west window, small 1-light window above and to south, clock face in circular stone surround to north and 2-light bell-chamber openings with cusped heads to lights, quatrefoil to head and hood moulds; off-set angle buttresses and battlemented parapet. Interior: chancel has hollow-chamfered piscina with projecting bowl on shaft. Double-chamfered chancel arch, continuous outermost, polygonal responds and moulded capitals innermost. Nave has 3-bay arcade to south with octagonal piers, moulded bases and capitals, that to west with quatrefoil and trefoil frieze, and double-chamfered arches to polygonal responds. Similar 5-bay arcade to north with chamfered bases. Plain tub font attached to west pier of north arcade. Tall C15 rood screen with 1-light divisions. C17 communion rail. Charity board and another board formerly in tower commemorating a ring on 31st December 1790 and signed 'Rd Dunckley Clerk May 12 1791'. Royal Arms of George III, oil on board. Some medieval stain-glass to heads of lights of north chancel window, other C14 and C15 fragments to south chancel window. Stain-glass south-west chancel window dated 1851. Late C19 stain glass to and north-east chancel windows. Coloured glass to heads of clerestory windows and east window of north aisle. Old crown glass panes to other windows, one inscribed God Save the King/for Ever 1798. Monuments. Brass on chest tomb to Roger Wake, d.1504 and his wife Elizabeth. Wide ogee-arched tomb recess adjacent. Stone wall monument to Margaret Blackey wife of Lional Blackey, d.1673 who 'lived a Maide:18/yeares:a wife 20 and a wid/ow 61'. Stone wall monument to Rebecca wife of Reverend Jonothan Yates, whose inscription records she was the 'wife of my right hand and/ioy fortie and foure yeares/ten monthes and one week'. Wall monument, oil on board, to Robert Watson, schoolmaster, d.1794 and signed Richard Dunkley.

{8} The church is set towards the south side of a roughly rectangular graveyard. Building description in text is largely reproduced from the 1988 RCHME survey by Richmond. The foundations of the north west corner of the north aisle were seen during the excavations.

Documentary evidence dates this church to the 14th/15th century but there may have been an earlier church of the 12th century (note the grant of the advowson to William Briwerre in 1199). Evidence of such a structure may survive beneath the present church.

{10} Undated photo, also photo dated 15.12.1993;

{11} Drawings of windows, one dated March 2nd 1897, notes on churches dated October 10th 1840, drawing of monumental brass of Roger Wake, various sketches and measurements;

{13} 15th century glass exists in situ in the two Perpendicular north chancel windows and a few fragments are in a chancel south window.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/18 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.108 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.337-38 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 40 p.1-3 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<6> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<7> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<8> Ivens R.J., 2007, Archaeological Watching Brief at The Church of St John The Baptist, Blisworth, Northamptonshire, p.9-10 (checked) (Report). SNN105921.

<9> Freeston G.; Hornby B., 2002, The Prodigal Rector of Blisworth, p.44-47 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102628.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Blisworth (Photographs). SNN112040.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/30/1-10 (Archive). SNN115.

<12> Historic England, Undated, St John the Baptist's Church, Blisworth, BF044004 (Archive). SNN115766.

<13> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 22-23 (Book). SNN101533.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 3:50PM