Architectural Features
Early-mid C18 headstone with an almost illegible inscription to the left of the porch, segmental head, ornately carved margin to the inscription.
The north wall retains some of its early C16 features
a blocked Tudor-arched doorway with quatrefoils in the spandrels and a moulded rectangular surround.
The torsos of winged and crowned angels each holding a shield, upper right and left.
North transept, rebuilt C14.
Monument built into the wall to the right of the window to Josiah Palmer, died (?)1772, fluted pilasters with decorative capitals either side of the inscription.
Chancel restored in C13 style.
The south transept was restored late C19 but retains a single C12 round-headed window with a hollow- chamfered surround in its left-hand return.
Great Rissington church is dedicated to St John the Baptist and dates from the 12th century though it was largely rebuilt in 1873. The church is Grade II* listed, see: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1152803 Within the church there is a memorial to those from the parish who were killed in the Great War (WWI). There are photographs of the men who died, seeing the faces of the men always makes it more real. Looking at the pictures of the men I was suddenly struck by the fact that five of the men killed were brothers, their names were Albert, Alfred, Arthur, Frederick and Walter Souls. Alfred and Arthur were identical twins and they died five just days apart. There was a sixth son, a younger brother named Percy who was too young to serve, sadly he succumbed to meningitis. The Imperial War Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission know of no greater sacrifice by a British family.
C16 four-light south window (restored C19) with four-centred arched heads to each light all within a rectangular casement moulded surround, moulded hood with diamond stops.
The base of the tower dates from c1200 The upper stages were rebuilt during the C15.
String below parapet with head gargoyles offset from the corners.
Porch, rebuilt 1873 with a pointed entrance with engaged C13 columns either side.
C15 cinquefoil-headed niche decorated with stencilled stars of David in the north-east corner of the north transept.
Diagonally set cream and red floor tiles to the nave and transepts.
C14 piscina with an ogee-curved head reset in the south wall of the south transept.
Pointed arches over the windows and along the north wall in the chancel rising from C13 engaged columns with keel mouldings and capitals.
The pulpit, desk, lectern, the dorsal, painted riddle posts and curtains and the screen dividing the chantry chapel from the rest of the south transept were designed in 1940 by H. Stratton Davies.
Monuments
Four monuments in the south transept from left to right
Limestone monument to Mary Crips, died 1739, winged angel's head at top with a segmental moulding above linking two fluted columns.
Monument to the right to Thomas Cambray, died 1740.
Fine monument to the right to John Barnarde, Gent, died 1621.
Jacobean wall monument to John (d.1621) and his wife Joane Barnard in the south transept of Great Rissington church.
Two kneeling figures in bold relief with a winged angel's head above.
C19 stained glass in the chancel east window.
C20 stained glass in the nave west window.