47212
The Grade I Listed Church Of St John The Baptist, High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset.
Described as "one of the most ambitious parish churches in Somerset", the present Church dates from the 15th century. However, this church replaced an earlier one. Recent excavations in the nave have revealed the foundations of a large central tower that possibly dated from Saxon times, and a later Norman nave arcade on the same plan as the existing one. A central tower survived until the 15th Century, but is believed to have collapsed, at which time the church was rebuilt. In the north aisle, 12th century fabric survives in the former Saint Katherine's Chapel.
The church is laid out in a cruciform plan with an aisled nave and a clerestorey of seven bays. The west tower has elaborate buttressing, panelling and battlements. The interior of the church includes four 15th-century tomb-chests, some 15th-century stained glass in the chancel, medieval vestments, and a domestic cupboard of about 1500 which was once at Witham Charterhouse.
The tower rises to a height of 134½ feet (about 41 metres), and is the second tallest parish church tower in Somerset. The tower is unusual in that it has a chiming clock, but no clock face. There has been a set of bells at St John's Church since 1403. The oldest existing bell was originally made in 1612 and inscribed 'I sound to bid the sick repent in hope of life when breath is spent'. This bell was recast in 1992. The church has a ring of eight bells; the largest, the tenor bell, is about 14 cwt or about 712 kg and the smallest, the treble, is about 5 cwt or 250 kg.
In the churchyard is a thorn tree grown from a cutting from the Glastonbury Thorn. A blossom from this tree is sent to the Queen every Christmas. At the end of term, the pupils of St John’s Infants School gather round the tree in St John’s parish churchyard on the High Street. They sing carols, including one specially written for the occasion, and the oldest pupil has the privilege of cutting the branch of the Glastonbury Thorn that is then taken to London and presented to Her Majesty The Queen.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_John_the_Baptist,_Glas...
47212
The Grade I Listed Church Of St John The Baptist, High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset.
Described as "one of the most ambitious parish churches in Somerset", the present Church dates from the 15th century. However, this church replaced an earlier one. Recent excavations in the nave have revealed the foundations of a large central tower that possibly dated from Saxon times, and a later Norman nave arcade on the same plan as the existing one. A central tower survived until the 15th Century, but is believed to have collapsed, at which time the church was rebuilt. In the north aisle, 12th century fabric survives in the former Saint Katherine's Chapel.
The church is laid out in a cruciform plan with an aisled nave and a clerestorey of seven bays. The west tower has elaborate buttressing, panelling and battlements. The interior of the church includes four 15th-century tomb-chests, some 15th-century stained glass in the chancel, medieval vestments, and a domestic cupboard of about 1500 which was once at Witham Charterhouse.
The tower rises to a height of 134½ feet (about 41 metres), and is the second tallest parish church tower in Somerset. The tower is unusual in that it has a chiming clock, but no clock face. There has been a set of bells at St John's Church since 1403. The oldest existing bell was originally made in 1612 and inscribed 'I sound to bid the sick repent in hope of life when breath is spent'. This bell was recast in 1992. The church has a ring of eight bells; the largest, the tenor bell, is about 14 cwt or about 712 kg and the smallest, the treble, is about 5 cwt or 250 kg.
In the churchyard is a thorn tree grown from a cutting from the Glastonbury Thorn. A blossom from this tree is sent to the Queen every Christmas. At the end of term, the pupils of St John’s Infants School gather round the tree in St John’s parish churchyard on the High Street. They sing carols, including one specially written for the occasion, and the oldest pupil has the privilege of cutting the branch of the Glastonbury Thorn that is then taken to London and presented to Her Majesty The Queen.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_John_the_Baptist,_Glas...