Belfry, Avon Dassett
Photo taken during restoration of the church in July 2007.
Avon Dassett has two churches which comes as a surprise for so small a village, both with spires and both now closed for worship sadly due to dwindling congregations. The older church of St John the Baptist is the more elusive of the two, despite its elevated position on the hillside at the north end of the village, as it is so engulfed by trees in its rather cramped churchyard, its spire just reaching above them to assert its presence.
The ancient church was completely rebuilt in 1868-9 to the designs of Charles Buckeridge in beautiful deep golden brown Hornton stone (an ironstone with the colouring of well baked-bread) and consists of a west tower and steeple with nave and north aisle culminating in a chancel on high ground at the east end. The former east window of the old church was retained but relocated to the opposite end of the building where it became the west window of the tower.
Trying to appreciate the exterior is difficult, given the lack of space in the churchyard and the dense foliage surrounding it. The building reveals itself in parts and glimpses through the trees rather mysteriously. The best external view to be had is from the steep slope immediately to the north, but alas when I last visited this was facing directly into the sun! On my first visit the tower was scaffolded so it took me two visits to actually form an idea of what this church even looked like, and it remains a challenge to photographers even now.
Stepping inside brings us to a large open space, impressively lofty and rising to a crescendo in the chancel which is significantly higher than the nave and reached by steps. The lighting is subdued owing to the surrounding trees and the colouring of the bare stonework, but it is a pleasing sight and pleasantly cool on a hot day. The north arcade is convincingly early 13th century in style despite being fully Victorian so it is tempting to assume it's a remnant of the old church, but there are only two of these remaining, one the aforementioned west window with a single panel of medieval glass fragments (including the figure of a bishop) and the other is a very fine tomb in the chancel, a beautiful early 14th century cusped recess containing an early 13th century effigy of a tonsured deacon, both in surprisingly good condition and the best feature of interest here.
This church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust and generally kept open daily for visitors.
www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-john-avo...
Belfry, Avon Dassett
Photo taken during restoration of the church in July 2007.
Avon Dassett has two churches which comes as a surprise for so small a village, both with spires and both now closed for worship sadly due to dwindling congregations. The older church of St John the Baptist is the more elusive of the two, despite its elevated position on the hillside at the north end of the village, as it is so engulfed by trees in its rather cramped churchyard, its spire just reaching above them to assert its presence.
The ancient church was completely rebuilt in 1868-9 to the designs of Charles Buckeridge in beautiful deep golden brown Hornton stone (an ironstone with the colouring of well baked-bread) and consists of a west tower and steeple with nave and north aisle culminating in a chancel on high ground at the east end. The former east window of the old church was retained but relocated to the opposite end of the building where it became the west window of the tower.
Trying to appreciate the exterior is difficult, given the lack of space in the churchyard and the dense foliage surrounding it. The building reveals itself in parts and glimpses through the trees rather mysteriously. The best external view to be had is from the steep slope immediately to the north, but alas when I last visited this was facing directly into the sun! On my first visit the tower was scaffolded so it took me two visits to actually form an idea of what this church even looked like, and it remains a challenge to photographers even now.
Stepping inside brings us to a large open space, impressively lofty and rising to a crescendo in the chancel which is significantly higher than the nave and reached by steps. The lighting is subdued owing to the surrounding trees and the colouring of the bare stonework, but it is a pleasing sight and pleasantly cool on a hot day. The north arcade is convincingly early 13th century in style despite being fully Victorian so it is tempting to assume it's a remnant of the old church, but there are only two of these remaining, one the aforementioned west window with a single panel of medieval glass fragments (including the figure of a bishop) and the other is a very fine tomb in the chancel, a beautiful early 14th century cusped recess containing an early 13th century effigy of a tonsured deacon, both in surprisingly good condition and the best feature of interest here.
This church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust and generally kept open daily for visitors.
www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-john-avo...