St John The Baptist

MATERIALS: Local grey sandstone, tile roofs, with slate roof to vestry.

EXTERIOR: The 3-stage tower is C13 but has C15 bell stage details and embattled parapet.

The nave has diagonal south-west buttress and C12 south-east angle pilaster strip.

The C12 doorway has nook shafts and chevron ornament, and weathered billet frieze on the label.

The buttressed 3-bay north aisle, using older masonry, has a blocked C12 north doorway which has nook shafts, scalloped capitals and weathered arch with chevrons.

The south wall also has a round-headed window on the left side above the untidy infilling of a C12 doorway (more clearly visible inside), and a later pointed doorway, possibly to a private pew.

Floors are red and black tiles, raised wood floors are beneath pews, and encaustic tiles in the sanctuary are by Maw & Co.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: The principal fixtures of interest are the funeral monuments in the chancel.

Behind is a Tudor arch and armorial bearings.

A mid C16 alabaster grave slab, formerly at the foot of the Devereux tomb, is to Henry Devereux, and has an incised effigy.

Above it is a brass plaque to Thomas Newport A pair of elegant classical wall tablets are by Sir Edwin Lutyens , to General Sir Walter Congreve , governor of Malta, and William Congreve VC They are of white marble with green and orange marble borders respectively, and have broken pediments with achievements in a C17 revival manner.

The C19 octagonal font is Perpendicular style.

The pulpit is polygonal with cusped blind arches.

It is flanked by tile panels attributed to Minton.

In the chancel east wall is a Royal Arms of 1784 painted on board, and in the tower base are two benefaction boards, one dated 1795.

The east window, by Camm of Smethwick, shows the Transfiguration The nave south window, showing the baptism of Christ, is by Wippell & Co SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: In the churchyard is the base of a medieval churchyard cross (LBS no 444415).

HISTORY: Built in the mid C12 by the Earl of Chester, of which the plan dimensions of nave and chancel have been maintained.

The tower was added in the C13, heightened or rebuilt in the C15.

Nave and chancel windows are C14

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St John the Baptist, Stowe-by-Chartley, is listed Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * For the extent of its C12 fabric, including pilaster strips

doorways. * For the extent of its later medieval fabric, including a fine tower. * It has high-quality funeral monuments of the C16, and of the early C20 by Lutyens.