St John the Baptist's Church, Mayfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Mayfield |
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View from the south
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| 53°00′00″N 1°46′18″W / 53.00000°N 1.77167°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 154 447 |
| Location | Mayfield, Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.mayfieldparishchurch.org/ |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 12 January 1966 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Uttoxeter Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
St John the Baptist's Church is a very old and important church in the village of Mayfield, Staffordshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is so special that it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is protected because of its history and amazing architecture. The oldest parts of the church are from the Norman times. It was made bigger in the early 1300s, and its tall tower was built in 1515.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The Church's Story
How Old Is This Church?
Imagine, there was a church here even before the Normans arrived! The Domesday Book, a famous record from 1086, mentions a priest in Mayfield. This shows that a church existed in the village way back then.
Around the year 1125, a simple stone building replaced the older Saxon church. You can still see parts of this early building today. For example, the south doorway, which is now inside a later porch, has a beautiful Norman arch. The main part of the church, called the nave, also has many Norman features.
Growing Bigger: Medieval Changes
In the early 1300s, the church was made much larger. The south aisle, which is a side section, and the chancel, the area near the altar, were added at this time. The pointed arch leading to the chancel also dates from this period. The chancel is quite large and has a special "decorated" style, which was popular in medieval architecture.
The church's tall tower was finished in 1515. It was built by Thomas Rollestone, who was the Lord of the Manor. The tower has three levels and strong diagonal supports called buttresses. On the west side of the tower, there is an old inscription. It says in an old French language: "Ainsy et mieulx peult ester," which means "Thus it is and better could it be."
Later Updates and Features
The south porch, which is the covered entrance, was built around 1600. It was later repaired in the 1800s. Inside, you can see an oak communion rail from 1660. The oak altar table was brought into the church in 1663. People think it might have been an Elizabethan farmhouse table before it came to the church. The decorative wall along the top of the chancel, called a parapet, was added in the 1700s.
In 1854, some changes were made to create more "free seats" for people. The north aisle was rebuilt. The old box pews, which were like small enclosed boxes, were replaced with open bench pews. The wood from the old box pews was used to make the new benches. This increased the number of free seats from 31 to 107. The hexagonal oak pulpit, which is where the preacher stands, was moved from the north side to the south side of the central aisle. This pulpit is from the 1600s. The stone font, used for baptisms, was also moved. It is shaped like an octagon and dates back to 1514.
The Church Bells
St John the Baptist's Church has a set of six bells. One of these bells is very old, dating back to 1515, when the tower was completed. A second bell was added in 1642, and a third in 1864. In 1902, all the bells were re-hung, and three new bells were added to the set.
Images for kids
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View from the south
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View from the east, showing the chancel and parapet
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Mayfield, Staffordshire
