St John the Baptist's Church, Barnack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist,Barnack |
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St John the Baptist's Church, Barnack
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| Location | Barnack, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad |
| Website | https://parishnews-online.co.uk/st-john-the-baptist-church-barnack/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 19 March 1962 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 114 feet (35 metres) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Barnack with Ufford |
| Deanery | Peterborough |
| Archdeaconry | Oakham |
| Diocese | Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St John the Baptist in Barnack is a very old and special church in England. It's a Church of England parish church, which means it's a local church for the people living in the village of Barnack. Barnack is part of the City of Peterborough area in Cambridgeshire, England. Long ago, Barnack was part of a historical area called the Soke of Peterborough. It's about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south-east of Stamford, a town in Lincolnshire. This church is a 'Grade I listed building,' which means it's a very important historical building protected by the government.
The church is named after John the Baptist. It is especially famous for its amazing Anglo-Saxon tower. This tower is very old, and a tall spire was added to it around the year 1200. This spire might be one of the earliest spires ever built in England!
Contents
Ancient Features of the Church
The Anglo-Saxon Tower
The tower of St John the Baptist church is a true historical treasure. The oldest part of the tower, built by the Anglo-Saxons, stands about 55 feet (17 metres) tall. On top of this ancient base, an octagon-shaped section and a spire were added later. This spire reaches about 59 feet (18 metres) high. Together, the tower and spire reach a total height of 114 feet (35 metres) to the base of the weathervane. It's a tall and impressive sight!
The Christ in Majesty Sculpture
Inside the church, in the north aisle, you can find a large stone carving called a Romanesque sculpture. It shows a seated figure of Christ in Majesty. This special sculpture was found hidden under the floor in 1931. Experts have different ideas about how old it is. Some think it was made in the late 900s, while others believe it's from around the year 1200. The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland suggests it was made in the late 12th century. It's a beautiful piece of art from a long time ago.
What Makes This Church Special?
A famous church expert named Simon Jenkins wrote a book called England's Thousand Best Churches. In his book, he gave St John the Baptist church four stars out of five. He especially liked the church's ancient tower, the unique font (a basin used for baptisms) with its 'stiff-leaf' carvings, and the amazing Christ in Majesty sculpture. These features make the church a must-see for anyone interested in history and old buildings.
Gallery
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St John from the southeast showing the Lady Chapel at left
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The square Anglo-Saxon tower; the top is later
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Saxon doorway - geograph.uk - 204121.jpg
Anglo-Saxon south doorway in the tower
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Gravestones in the Churchyard
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Distant view from the north
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Porch and south aisle, photographed in 1926 by Berit Wallenberg
