St John The Baptist

The south aisle was added in 1390

the south porch and chancel were rebuilt in 1470

restoration was undertaken between 1634 and 1655 after the collapse of the tower and storm damage, including construction of the west tower

MATERIALS: the church is constructed of coursed and squared rubble with banded ashlar to the tower, ashlar dressings and copings, a plain clay tile roof to the chancel and a slate roof to the nave.

Its north side has three C13 lancets, one that is blocked.

The south wall has a single C13 lancet.

The north side of the nave has buttresses with set-offs, a battlemented parapet with weathered gargoyles below and a polygonal turret for the rood-loft staircase.

The south porch has C19 openings but a C14 statue niche above the outer doorway and wrought-iron gates with quatrefoils.

INTERIOR: there is a C19 tie-beam roof to the nave and similar mid-C17 roofs to the aisles but with quatrefoil and lozenge panels

all roofs are supported on carved stone corbels.

FITTINGS: the nave has three 1717-21 brass chandeliers given by Ann Tilly

a baluster stem font with circular bowl given by Harry Bridges in 1725

a further 1864 Perpendicular Gothic style, octagonal font with wooden spired cover

It's Keynsham Winter Evening and the church is open to offer some hot refreshments on a chilly night. The octagonal font is in Perpendicular Gothic style of 1864; the wooden cover also helps with the price list.

© Neil Owen

a wooden pulpit of around 1655 with blind arcading and diamond-cut decoration

and an 1893 wooden eagle lectern.

The south aisle has a section of the mid-C15, wooden rood screen, moved from the chancel, which survived the fall of north-east tower in 1632: it comprises three-light divisions with panel tracery, a leaf frieze, cresting and coving for the rood decorated with suns.

The south aisle also has a burial hatchment high up on aisle wall.

MEMORIALS: there are wall memorials to the north and south aisles, mostly C18 and C19, with one of 1659 to Joane Flower (of the Flowers of Saltford Manor, listed at Grade II*).

The chancel north wall has a monument to Sir Henry Bridges, died 1587: it comprises a recumbent effigy on a tomb chest with caryatids, an arched top on pillars, coats of arms on the back wall and small allegorical figures on the tops of the arches.

The south wall has a monument to Sir Thomas Bridges, died 1661 comprising a hanging triptych with a kneeling figure of Sir Thomas in centre and angels to the sides

the three parts are emphasised by four twisted columns which carry open segmental pediments and an apse vault over the centre with carved clouds and angels.

There are further C17 and C18 wall memorials to the Bridges family.

STAINED GLASS: there is some C19 stained glass including the tower window

HISTORICAL NOTE: The south wall of the west tower has a copy of the 'Brief' of Charles I enabling the church to solicit help from other parishes after the fall of the north-east tower in 1632.

The monument to Sir Thomas Bridges is similar in style to that at Rodney Stoke, Somerset to Sir Edward Rodney