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St John the Baptist

St John The Baptist

Little Sodbury

Gloucestershire

ST 78 SE SODBURY CHURCH LANE 2/46 OLD SODBURY Parish Church of St John the Baptist II* C12, restored, C15 tower.

Architectural Features

Built around 1215-25, the little church of Old Sodbury is a Norman place of worship. The fabric has been extended and rebuilt over the years, but the tower and some parts of the nave are original. As is often the case with churches of that period, they stand on a promontory; below is the vale of Sodbury, taking in much of south Gloucestershire; Welsh mountains including Brecon are visible on a clear day. The large clock was installed in Victoria's reign.

Norman origins.

Built around 1215-25, the little church of Old Sodbury is a Norman place of worship. The fabric has been extended and rebuilt over the years, but the tower and some parts of the nave are original. As is often the case with churches of that period, they stand on a promontory; below is the vale of Sodbury, taking in much of south Gloucestershire; Welsh mountains including Brecon are visible on a clear day. The large clock was installed in Victoria's reign.

© Neil Owen

Modern reproduction stone tile roof with some Cotswold stone tiles.

Restored Norman south doorway 4 bay Nave

Windows at west end of aisles are Norman, others are Perpendicular.

ST7581 : St John the Baptist, Old Sodbury - Font

Octagonal Perpendicular font.

ST7581 : St John the Baptist, Old Sodbury - Font

© John Salmon

Numerous fine monuments: In north transept 2 ogee headed tomb recesses

ST7581 : Old Sodbury, St. John the Baptist's Church: Carved stone effigy of a knight, possibly early c14th

one with a carved wooden effigy of a knight C14

ST7581 : Old Sodbury, St. John the Baptist's Church: Carved stone effigy of a knight, possibly early c14th

© Michael Garlick

the other a stone military effigy in high relief, circa 1240.

Under tower a collection of finely carved C18 and C19 tablets and one, 1676 to William Sheen, with a segmental pediment and funerary symbolism.