St John the Baptist's Church, Strensham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Strensham |
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St John the Baptist's Church, Strensham, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SO 910 406 |
| Location | Strensham, Worcestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 11 February 1965 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Chancel brick, otherwise grey lias rubble, all rendered, roofs tiled |
St John the Baptist's Church is an old Anglican church in the village of Strensham, Worcestershire, England. It is no longer used for regular church services, which means it is a redundant building. This church is very important historically. It is listed as a Grade I listed building, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. The Churches Conservation Trust looks after it today. A famous expert, Alec Clifton-Taylor, even put this church on his list of the 'best' English parish churches.
Contents
History of St John the Baptist's Church
The church is very old, with some parts dating back to the 14th century (the 1300s). These oldest parts are found in the main hall, called the nave, and the area around the altar, known as the chancel.
Building Changes Over Time
The tall tower was added later, either in the late 14th or 15th century. The windows in the nave were also changed during the 15th century. In the early 19th century (the early 1800s), a small room called the vestry was built. Since 1991, the Churches Conservation Trust has been responsible for caring for this historic church.
Architecture and Design
The church has a unique look, with different parts built from various materials.
Outside the Church
The vestry is made of brick. The rest of the church is built from grey lias rubble, which is a type of rough stone. The entire outside of the church is covered in a smooth layer called render. The roofs are covered with tiles.
The church's shape includes a main hall (the nave), a slightly smaller and narrower area for the altar (the chancel), a porch on the south side, a vestry on the north side, and a tall tower on the west side.
The Tower and Its Features
The tower has three levels. It has strong supports called buttresses on its western corners. There is also a small stair turret on the southeast side. At the bottom of the tower, there is a doorway on the west side. Above this door is a large window with three sections, built in the Perpendicular style. The middle level of the tower has a single window on the west side. The top level has two-light openings for the bells on each side. At the very top of the tower, there is a decorative wall with a battlement pattern.
Other Exterior Details
In the chancel, the east window has three sections. The south wall of the chancel has a door for the priest and a two-light window. The north wall has a single-light window. The vestry also has a decorative parapet wall at its top. Both the north and south walls of the nave have a doorway, one single-light window, and two two-light windows. You can also see a sundial above the south doorway.
Inside the Church
Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered with plaster. Both the nave and the chancel have curved ceilings, known as barrel roofs. The floor of the nave is covered with tiles and bricks from the 15th century at the west end. The chancel floor is made of stone.
Special Interior Features
At the west end of the nave, there is a gallery. This gallery was rebuilt using parts of a beautifully carved oak rood screen from the 15th or 16th century. It has 23 painted panels on its front. The middle panel shows a picture of Christ, while the others show apostles, saints, and other important church figures.
The font, used for baptisms, is from the 19th century and is designed in the Norman style. The pulpit, where sermons are given, and its attached reading desk are from around 1700. The church benches are even older, from the mid-16th century. There is also a large box pew at the east end of the nave.
Above the arch leading to the chancel, you can see the Royal arms of King George III and two hatchments (diamond-shaped funeral memorials). On the west wall of the nave, there are boards displaying the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed.
Monuments and Stained Glass
The chancel holds several monuments dedicated to the Russell family. The oldest of these dates back to the late 14th century. There are also several brasses (engraved metal plates), with the oldest one honoring Sir Robert Russell, who passed away in 1390.
A large Jacobean monument, possibly made by Samuel Baldwin, remembers Sir Thomas Russell (who died in 1632) and his wife (who died in 1618). This monument includes painted and gilded effigies (statues) placed under an arch. A Baroque wall monument to Sir Francis Russell (who died in 1705) and his wife was created by Edward Stanton. There is also a monument for Samuel Butler, a famous poet and satirist who was born in this area and died in 1680.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. The east window, from 1890 by Cox, Son and Buckly, shows the Good Shepherd. A south chancel window from 1917 by Florence Camm depicts the Good Samaritan. A window in the nave from 1903, by Curtis, Ward and Hughes, shows the Ascension.
Music and Bells
The simple organ in the west gallery was made by the Positive Organ Company of London. The church also has a ring of eight bells. Three of these bells were made in 1704–05 by Abraham Rudhall I of Gloucester. The other bells were cast in 1911 and 1979 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough.
External Features
In the churchyard, outside the church, you can find the base of a medieval cross. This cross base is also a listed building, designated as Grade II.
See also
