Church of St. John the Baptist, Cirencester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St. John Baptist, Cirencester
Church of St. John Baptist, Cirencester
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	High Church
Website	www.cirenparish.co.uk/
History
Dedication	St John the Baptist
Administration
Parish	Cirencester
Diocese	Gloucester
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St. John Baptist in Cirencester is a very old church in England. It's part of the Church of England and is located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. This church is so important that it's listed as a Grade I building, meaning it's of special historical interest.

The church building shows off many different styles of architecture from over the centuries. Some parts are from the 12th century, while others were built much later. For example, the main part of the church, called the nave, was rebuilt twice. A tall tower was added in the 15th century. There's also a large south porch that was built around 1480. It was only connected to the church in the 18th century.

This church is made from Cotswold stone, a local type of rock. It's known as one of the "largest parish churches in England." Inside, you can find old tombs, monuments, and even some pieces of medieval stained glass and wall paintings.

History of the Church

The Church of St. John Baptist is a very old building, dating back to medieval times. It's famous for its grand porch, special fan-shaped ceilings, and tombs of wealthy merchants.

Building Through the Centuries

The oldest part of the church is the chancel. Building of the current church began in the 12th century. It was built on the site of an even older Saxon church. Around 1180, the church was made wider. Then, about 1240, the main area, the nave, was completely rebuilt.

The large east window was added around 1300. Its original stained glass is gone now. Instead, it holds beautiful 15th-century glass from other parts of the church.

Chapels and Additions

To the north of the chancel is St. Catherine's Chapel, built around 1150. It has an old wall painting of St. Christopher. In 1508, this chapel got new vaulting (a type of arched ceiling). This was paid for by Abbot John Hakebourne, thanks to money from the wool trade. This makes it a great example of a "Wool church", built with wealth from the wool industry.

Next to St. Catherine's Chapel is the Lady Chapel. It was first built in 1240 and made bigger in the 15th century. The church's tall tower was built around 1400. It has strong buttresses (supports) to hold it up.

The Trinity Chapel was built between 1430 and 1460. It was meant for a priest from the nearby Abbey to say prayers for kings and queens. It has a special small opening called a "squint." This allowed the priest to see the main altar and keep time with the service there.

The nave was rebuilt again between 1515 and 1530. It's a fantastic example of late Perpendicular Gothic architecture. This style is known for its tall, straight lines and large windows.

The Grand South Porch

The large south porch, which faces the market square, was built around 1500. A woman named Alice Avening paid for it. Cirencester Abbey originally built it around 1480 to be an administrative office. It was only connected to the church in the 18th century. Before that, it was even used as the town hall!

Later Events

In 1642, during the English Civil War, the church was used to hold local people overnight after fights in the town.

In the 1860s, a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott worked to make the church stronger. During this time, many bodies buried under the nave were moved to the Lady Chapel. This work helped discover more about how the church was built over different periods.

In 2019, a competition began to create new statues for the church walls. These will replace the original ones that were removed and lost in 1963.

Architecture and Features

The Church of St. John Baptist is made of Cotswold stone. It is about 180 feet (55 meters) long and 104 feet (32 meters) wide. The tower, with its three sections and strong buttresses, stands 134 feet (41 meters) high. Its large size makes it one of the biggest parish churches in England.

Inside the Church

The church's design includes a chancel (the area around the altar) and a nave (the main seating area) with aisles on either side. The nave has tall arches supported by piers (large columns). These piers have carved angels at their tops. The west tower holds bells that have been added and changed over many years.

The south porch has three levels. It features carved oriel windows (bay windows) and decorative tops with small towers called pinnacles. Inside, the rooms are covered in detailed wooden panels.

The pulpit (where sermons are given) dates from the 15th century. The eight-sided font (for baptisms) was carved in the 14th century. It was found in the abbey grounds and brought back to the church in the 19th century. The shiny brass chandeliers were made in Bristol in 1701.

Windows and Treasures

The church has several stained glass windows. Some of these contain small pieces of very old medieval glass. Most of the glass, however, is from the 18th century. The east windows of the chancel and south chapel were built around 1300.

You can still see some parts of old wall paintings, especially in St. Catherine's Chapel. There are also many different tombs and monuments. One special item is the "Boleyn Cup." This silver-gilt cup was made in 1535 for Anne Boleyn, a queen of England. It was later given to the church by Elizabeth I.

The Organ

The church has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1895 by a famous organ builder known as "Father Willis." The organ's beautiful wooden case was designed by George Gilbert Scott. The organ has been updated and rebuilt several times, most recently in 2009.

Parish Status

The Church of St. John Baptist is part of a larger parish. This parish also includes Holy Trinity Church, Watermoor, and St. Lawrence, Chesterton.

Images for kids

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  The altar

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  The tomb of Thomas Master (died 1680) in the Lady Chapel

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  The north aisle

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  The font

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  Monument to George Monax (died 1638)

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  Stained glass in the east window

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  Fan vaulting in St. Nicholas's & St. Katherine's Chapel