Architectural Features
Restored 1864 and 1871 by F. Preedy, who also made several stained-glass windows.
EXTERIOR: The four-stage tower is C12 in its lower stage.
The head of a C13 cross slab is attached to the south aisle wall.
The side walls are C14, as the interior details reveal.
The nave has C14 four-bay arcades of octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches, and a canted C18 plaster ceiling, with longitudinal ribs, two roses, and cornice with triglyphs.
The tower arch, which has a continuous double chamfer, was added when the tower was heightened in the C13.
There are C19 tile floors, except for raised wooden floors below the pews.
The polychrome chancel reredos of c1865 was designed by Preedy and built of Cornish alabaster and tiles by Richard Boulton of Cheltenham, incorporating angels with harps, cross and inscription band.
Most of the furnishings are C19: a Perpendicular-style font of c1850, polygonal Painswick-stone pulpit of 1871, richly ornamented and with figure of John the Baptist.
Beneath the tower is a chest monument and brasses to John Throckmorton and his wife: the tomb is decorated with quatrefoils and has brass effigies 4 feet long.
Brasses of John and Eleanor Throckmorton in Fladbury church, 15th century ancestors of the Throckmortons of Coughton Court.
In the chancel floor are small brasses of priests commemorating Thomas Mordon and William Plewne In the nave floor is brass to Edward Peytoo There are numerous wall monuments, chief of which is the large Baroque standing monument to Bishop William Lloyd by James Withenbury: it has Corinthian pilasters and scrolled sides, entablature with achievement and is surmounted by a portrait bust.
Other wall monuments of the C18 and C19 include a memorial to Elizabeth Charlett with portrait bust, by John Ricketts junior, and George Perrott Two funeral hatchments are in the north aisle, to George Perrott and George Wigley Perrott In a chancel north window is a notable C14 heraldic glass, thought to have been brought here from Evesham Abbey, representing six shields with a seventh in the trefoil above.
A fragment of C14 glass showing the Virgin and Child is placed in an oak-framed light box at the east end of the south aisle.
Other glass is mainly by Frederick Preedy.
Clerestorey windows suggest heightening of the nave in the C16.
The chancel was restored in 1864-65 by Frederick Preedy , architect and stained-glass artist of Worcester, whose family moved to Fladbury in 1840.
Preedy also made glass for the various family memorial windows.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St John the Baptist, Fladbury, is listed Grade I for the following principal reasons: * For the extent and quality of its medieval fabric, including C12 tower base, C14 nave, aisles and vaulted porch. * It has C18 work of interest, including nave ceiling and tower. * For its fine medieval glass. * It has fine late medieval brasses, including the impressive Throckmorton tomb. * Other features of special interest include a large C18 memorial and good C19 glass windows by one of the foremost glaziers working in Worcestershire.
SO9946 : St. John the Baptist, Fladbury: stained glass window (c)