Church of St John the Baptist, Yeovil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist |
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| Location | BA20 1HE, Yeovil, Somerset, England |
| Built | Late 14th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 19 March 1951 |
| Reference no. | 261341 |
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The Church of St John the Baptist in Yeovil, Somerset, is an old and important Church of England parish church. It was built a long time ago, between 1380 and 1405, and has been a central part of the community ever since. This church is so special that it's been given a Grade I listed building status, meaning it's a building of great historical and architectural importance.
The Church of St John the Baptist was built over 600 years ago, starting in 1380 and finishing around 1405. Even though it's very old, it was updated in the 1850s to keep it in good condition.
Contents
The Tall Tower of St John's
The church's impressive tower was built later, around 1480. It stands about 92 feet (28 meters) tall! Experts believe that William Wynford, a famous master mason who worked on Wells Cathedral, might have overseen its construction.
As Yeovil grew bigger and more people moved there, the church became very busy. To help, a second church, Holy Trinity, started being built in 1843. This helped ease the pressure on St John's. Later, in 1863, a new cemetery was opened to provide more burial space.
The top of the tower has fancy stone railings called openwork balustrading. These match the stone walls, or parapets, which date back to the 1600s. Major repair work was done on the church from 1851 to 1860.
The tower has windows from the late 1300s on all sides, where the bells are. These windows have beautiful carved stone screens. There's also a small tower with stairs in one corner, topped with a weather vane.
The Church Bells
Inside the tower are fourteen bells. Two of these bells were made in 1728 by the Bilbie family, famous bell makers from Chew Stoke. Another bell, known as the "Great Bell," was also made in 1728. It was melted down and recast (made new) in 2013. Its weight changed from about 4,502 pounds (2,042 kg) to 4,992 pounds (2,264 kg).
Protecting the Church's History
Because some of the outside stone work needs repair, the church has been added to the Heritage at Risk Register. This means it's a historic building that needs special attention to protect it for the future.
One very interesting feature inside the church is a stained glass window. It shows Judas Iscariot, a figure from the Bible, with a dark halo. This is quite unusual. The church also has a special brass reading desk that was originally made in East Anglia.
The Church of St John the Baptist is part of a larger group of churches, or benefice, with St Andrew, Yeovil. They are all part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The church is known for its evangelical character, meaning it focuses on the teachings of the Christian gospel.
The Chantry: A School's History
In 1573, a building called the Chantry of St Mary the Virgin, located in the churchyard, was turned into a schoolroom. This school was a charity school, meaning it helped provide education.
In 1855, the old schoolroom was taken down. A new building, also called the Chantry, was built next to the churchyard. This new building had special people called feoffees who chose the schoolmaster. When the old school was demolished, it was thought to be from the time of King Richard III. Some parts, like two fireplaces, were saved and put into the new Chantry. Even the roof design was copied!
Over time, this charity school grew and changed into Yeovil Grammar School. This grammar school finally closed in 1907 when its schoolmaster retired.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
