St John The Baptist

Outstanding early C15 S porch, two stories, the lower part open and vaulted with good bosses, the upper part with 2-light early C15 windows.

There is a stained glass window in the open, lower section.

Shallow, embattled N porch of 1473 with carved waterspouts.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: C15 font, polygonal with quatrefoil and stylised roses.

C19 font cover with crocketted arches.

Pulpit has a traceried stone base with a timber traceried upper part.

Elaborate painted and gilded timber reredos also 1938 with carved figures under heavily traceried canopies.

The roofs are all C19 in a C15 style.

An elegant wall tablet by Flaxman to William Squire, d. 1826, a draped, male mourning figure leaning on a column.

Also several C18 wall monuments, including several to members of the Wyldbore family: that to Matthew Wyldbore MP d. 1781 by Richard Hayward is a handsome Neoclassical composition of some ambition.

Some good C19 and C20 stained glass, including a window in the N aisle by Wailes, 1896.

Two framed fragments of C15 vestments hang in the church.

dated 1569 but probably made up in the late C19 or early C20 of Spanish, German and other pieces.

Angled stone war memorial set against the west wall, depicting St. George and the dragon.

HISTORY The church of St John originally stood on another site to the east of the Abbey in the Bond-or Boongate area, and probably dated to the late C11, but it was subject to flooding.

In 1402 the parishioners were granted permission to build a new church on the present site in the market place to the west of the abbey, using materials from the old church and from the nave of the chapel of St Thomas Becket near the abbey W gate.

It was consecrated in 1407.

The N porch was added in 1473.

Further replacement of the Y-tracery windows took place piecemeal in the late C19 and C20, usually in conjunction with the installation of stained glass.

SOURCES: Pevsner, N., Buildings of England: Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough , 325-6 Bull, J and V, A History of Peterborough Parish Church, 1407-2007 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St John the Baptist, Peterborough is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * An architecturally ambitious parish church built c.1402-7 in a prominent position in the city centre, exemplifying Perpendicular town church design. * Very fine two story, vaulted S porch. * Fittings of note include a C15 font, good C20 screen work and High Anglican furnishings including rood and reredos. * Restored and partially rebuilt in 1881-3 by J L Pearson, the important Gothic architect. * Interesting monuments include those to William Squire d. 1826 by Flaxman, and the Wyldbore tomb by Richard Hayward.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register.