St John The Baptist

MATERIALS: Coursed rubble to medieval parts, and coursed squared gritstone on a rock-faced plinth to C19 parts, stone to upper stages of tower, slate roof.

EXTERIOR: The four-stage tower is the earliest section of the building, the lower two stages of which are C13.

The short upper stages are C15 in pale grey stone, with round clock face in the south wall and two-light Perpendicular belfry openings.

The crown was added in 1681, comprising an embattled parapet and small corner pinnacles.

There is an embattled parapet on the north wall and, not visible externally, a C17 south clerestorey of six triple round-headed lights.

The much-restored south chapel projects forward of the nave aisle and its external details are C17.

It has an embattled parapet with pinnacles, four-light square-headed windows with round-headed lights to the right and left, tripartite mullioned window right of centre, and round-headed doorway left of centre with ribbed and studded door incorporating `1696' in iron studs.

INTERIOR: The C13 tower arch has three orders of chamfer, the inner order on keeled shafts.

The south aisle and chapel arcades are C14 and therefore earlier than external detail suggests.

Re-set in the north-aisle wall is a re-painted late-medieval Easter Sepulchre, which has a cusped ogee arch and pinnacles incorporating crude frontal figures.

The floor is stone-paved with some grave slabs and black and red tiles in the chapel, and raised floorboards below pews.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: The c1200 font is much restored and probably altered.

The 1869 polygonal pulpit has quatrefoil panels, on a stone base with shafts and stiff-leaf frieze.

The 1915 chancel screen, in late-medieval style with painted foliage cornice and brattishing, has 1960s rood by Ludwig Kuziarz.

There are several monuments to the Frecheville family.

In the chancel a damaged brass effigy, on a tomb chest decorated with shields in quatrefoils, is to Peter Frecheville Next to it is a recess with small male and female brass effigies, to Piers and Maud Frecheville.

An incised alabaster slab on the south side of the chancel is to John Frecheville In the south chapel is a wall monument to Christian Lady St John with reclining female figure nursing a baby.

Also in the chapel is a sarcophagus with seated putti, to John Lord Frecheville Behind it is an armorial stained-glass window dated 1676, by Henry Gyles of York.

C14 glass fragments are in the chapel east window.

There are several other stained-glass windows of the late C19 and C20, including SS Peter, John, Francis and Paul by F.S. Eden and 2 north-aisle windows by H.J. Stammers of York SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: Lych-gate with half-hipped graded-slate roof, by P.H. Currey, c1938.

HISTORY: The earliest surviving features of the church are the c1200 south doorway and possibly the font.

The tower is C13.

In the C14 the south aisle and a south chapel were added.

The church was altered in the C15 by the heightening of the tower, and then by rebuilding the outer walls of the south aisle.

In the latter half of the C17 the chapel walls were rebuilt , chancel clerestorey was added, and the crown was added to the tower in 1681.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St John the Baptist, Staveley,Derby, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * It is a substantial medieval village church with substantial early fabric, including c1200 doorway, C13-C15 tower, and C14-C17 aisle and chapel. * It has medieval interior features of special interest, including the font and the rare (but re-sited) Easter Sepulchre. * It has several notable features connected with the Frecheville family, especially the C15-C17 monuments and C17 armorial window. * The church stands next to the early C17 former Staveley Hall, seat of the Frecheville family.