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St John the Baptist

St John The Baptist

Little Somerford

Wiltshire

Anglican parish church, C1300 with C15 west tower, restored c1860

Architectural Features

Porch is late C15

moulded plinth and broad four-centred arched entry with hoodmould and carved shield over

Plank door within in C14 broad hollow-moulded pointed arch with hoodmould, damaged, niche over and stringcourse each side

C15 tower is roughcast with angle buttresses

cornice with angle gargoyles and ashlar embattled parapet

Interior: original roofs have been strengthened with heavy C17 framing on tie-beams, nave has collar rafter roof with straight braces, chancel similar but with curved braces, probably formerly ceiled

Tower arch has 2-chamfer segmental-pointed head and is infilled with royal arms dated 1602, formerly in tympanum over chancel screen, but removed 1983

Moulded sill course and hoodmoulds to windows each side and some C17 painted texts: Creed and Ps

Fine timber chancel screen, basically C14 with heavily moulded top and quatrefoil frieze, centre opening and five ogee-headed lights each side

Lower panels removed in C17 and some added pinnacles each side of centre

Exceptional C15 boarded tympanum with paintings concealed until 1983

two censing angels each side of Ten Commandments

angels on a deep red ground

It is suggested that the Commandments are a C16 replacement for a rood

Fittings: in nave C17 pews, cut down, and matching c1900 pews in nave and stalls in chancel

C19 octagonal font with C17 wood cover

Fine two-decker heavily carved pulpit and reading desk dated 1626, missing sounding board

Stained glass of fine quality

other with glass of 1932 by W. Glasby

north side has 1920 glass in head of former north door and C19 patterned glass elsewhere

Chancel has reredos of c1900 to match C17 pulpit

east window glass of c1860

various C19 wall monuments.