Church of St John of Beverley, Whatton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St John of Beverley, Whatton-in-the-Vale
Denomination	Church of England
Website	The Cranmer Group
History
Dedication	St John of Beverley
Administration
Parish	Whatton-in-the-Vale
Diocese	Southwell and Nottingham
Province	York

The Church of St John of Beverley, Whatton is an old church in Whatton-in-the-Vale, Nottinghamshire. It belongs to the Church of England. The church is named after St John of Beverley. It's a very special building, listed as Grade II* listed because of its history and architecture. This means it's an important historical building.

History of Whatton Church

This church is very old, first built in the 14th century. The 14th century was a long time ago, from 1301 to 1400. Over the years, the church has been repaired and changed a lot. Most of the changes happened in the 1800s. These big repair projects are called "Victorian restorations."

What the Church Looks Like Now

Today, the church has a main area called the chancel. This part was rebuilt in 1846. It also has a central tower and a tall steeple. These were rebuilt in 1870. The main open space for people is called the nave. On each side of the nave are aisles. There are also two porches, one on the north side and one on the south.

Oldest Parts of the Church

Only a few parts of the church are from its very early days. One old piece is an arch from the tower. It was moved from the south side to the north during the 1800s repairs. This arch shows a very old style of building called Romanesque. The main part of the church, the nave, is built in a style called Early English.

Thomas Cranmer's Chapel

There is a special chapel inside the church. It remembers Thomas Cranmer, who was a very important person. He became an Archbishop. He was born and grew up nearby in a village called Aslockton. Aslockton used to be part of Whatton's church area. Inside this chapel, you can see two old stone carvings. They are called corbel heads. These carvings are from around the year 1300. They show a king, believed to be David, and an angel.

Special Things to See

The Church of St John of Beverley has many interesting features. You can find old architectural details. These include the bottom part of a spiral staircase that is no longer used. There's also a special carved space in the wall. This space holds a statue of a priest who worked here a long time ago. You can also see a double piscina. A piscina is a stone basin used for washing holy items.

Old Statues and Memorials

Inside the church, there are two old statues of knights. One is from the late 1300s. It shows a Knight Templar wearing armor. The other knight statue is from the early 1300s. This one is shown with his legs crossed. There is also a special stone tablet. It remembers Thomas Cranmer's father. He was also named Thomas Cranmer and was born in Aslockton in 1489.

Font, Windows, and Bells

The font, which is a large basin used for baptisms, dates from 1662. This means it's over 350 years old! The church also has beautiful stained-glass windows. One of these windows was designed by a famous artist named Edward Burne-Jones. He was part of a group called the Pre-Raphaelites. This window shows Saint Peter, Saint John, and Jesus. The church has a set of eight bells. Five of these bells are very old. They were made by Henry Oldfield in Nottingham in 1590 and 1618. An early clock was put in the church in 1683 by Richard Roe. This old clock was later replaced in 1910.

The Cranmer Group of Churches

The Church of St John of Beverley is part of a group of churches. This group is called the Cranmer Group of parishes. A parish is the area that a church serves. Being part of a group means these churches work together.

• St Thomas's Church, Aslockton
• Church of St Mary and All Saints, Hawksworth
• Church of St John of Beverley, Scarrington
• St Helena's Church, Thoroton
• Church of St John of Beverley, Whatton
• St Mary's Church, Orston

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
• Listed buildings in Whatton-in-the-Vale