Churches

This ancient parish Church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, but there was a very early dedication to St. Peter.

St. John's Church

St. John's Church in the 1920's.

It is not known when the first Christian Church was built on this site, but it is first mentioned in 1198 among the gifts of William. Lord Brewer, to Torre Abbey.

The Canons of Torre served the Church for a short time and in 1240 Bishop Brewer (Lord Brewer's nephew) made the living a Vicarage.

The first Vicar on firm record is John Battyn, instituted in 1328, although R. de Bosco is mentioned earlier as a Vicar.

News Years Eve, 1947
Muffled bells at the Parish Church rang out the Old Year, and a merry peal welcomed the New Year. Several excellent peals were rung, in which visitors from neighbouring parishes took part. The Vicar (Rev. A.E. Dobson) conducted a mid-night service, and officiated at a celebration of Holy Communion.

Briefly the Church's architectural history has been as follows.

A small late Norman building, the earliest known to us. Then in the 13th century this was enlarged to make an Early English cruciform Church.

After severe damage by lightning in 1395, a rebuilding was completed by the year 1400, mainly in the Perpendicular style as we see it today. The fine west tower was added about 1500.



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