Church of St John the Baptist, Midsomer Norton
Encyclopedia
The Anglican Church of St John the Baptist in Midsomer Norton
, Somerset
, England is a Grade II* listed building. St. John's is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells
.
The exact date of the building of the church is unknown, but was probably around 1150. The church was under the patronage of Merton Priory
in London
until the dissolution of the monasteries
, but the origin of this link is unknown. A deed of surrender was signed by the prior John Ramsay in 1539 after which Henry VIII
bestowed Norton on his Royal Foundation at Oxford
. The patronage was passed to Christ Church, Oxford
.
The Midsomer Norton Knight is a 13th or 14th century tomb effigy carving which may be the figure of one of the Gourney or Warknell family. The wooden effigy used to sit on the top of a tomb which was demolished in the 18th century. It was moved into the vicarage garden and used to represent Judas
, becoming known as the Jack o’ Lent. In 1975 the effigy was rediscovered and moved to the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
for conservation.
The font
is Norman
and the east window includes stained glass
by Charles Eamer Kempe
which was installed in 1889.
The tower dates from the 15th century, although the upper stages are from 1674, including the staue of Charles II
, but the rest was rebuilt in Gothic style by John Pinch the younger
in 1830-1831 and was extended in the 20th century with new chancel and lady chapel. The rest of the church was also rebuilt around 1483 and was part funded by Sir John Cheddar. By the beginning of the 19th century the church had fallen into a state of disrepair and major rebuilding and expansion work was carried out under the direction of the bath architect John Pinch
, at a cost of £2,829.
The churchyard includes a memorial to the 12 miners killed in 1839 at Wellsway pit in Westfield
when their rope was severed.
Since 2009 a major programme of restoration has been undertaken. The chancel has been given a new floor and the alter and choir stalls have been moved. Glass doors were constructed in the Lady Chapel and a new glass screen erected at the front of the St Barnabas Chapel. Some controversy arose when it was revealed that proposals to attach a 21 feet (6.4 m) mobile phone mast on the tower were under consideration to help fund the restoration work.
Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England is a Grade II* listed building. St. John's is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells
Diocese of Bath and Wells
The Diocese of Bath and Wells is a diocese in the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England.The diocese covers the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in the tiny city of...
.
The exact date of the building of the church is unknown, but was probably around 1150. The church was under the patronage of Merton Priory
Merton Priory
Merton Priory was founded in 1114 by Gilbert Norman, Sheriff of Surrey under Henry I. It was located in Merton, Surrey, England at the point where the Roman Stane Street crossed the River Wandle....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
until the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, but the origin of this link is unknown. A deed of surrender was signed by the prior John Ramsay in 1539 after which Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
bestowed Norton on his Royal Foundation at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. The patronage was passed to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
The Midsomer Norton Knight is a 13th or 14th century tomb effigy carving which may be the figure of one of the Gourney or Warknell family. The wooden effigy used to sit on the top of a tomb which was demolished in the 18th century. It was moved into the vicarage garden and used to represent Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
, becoming known as the Jack o’ Lent. In 1975 the effigy was rediscovered and moved to the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
The Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery is a large museum and art gallery in Bristol, England. It is run by the city council with no entrance fee. It holds designated museum status, granted by the national government to protect outstanding museums...
for conservation.
The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
and the east window includes stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
by Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
which was installed in 1889.
The tower dates from the 15th century, although the upper stages are from 1674, including the staue of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, but the rest was rebuilt in Gothic style by John Pinch the younger
John Pinch the younger
John Pinch the younger was an architect, working mainly in the city of Bath, England, and surveyor to the Pulteney and Darlington estate...
in 1830-1831 and was extended in the 20th century with new chancel and lady chapel. The rest of the church was also rebuilt around 1483 and was part funded by Sir John Cheddar. By the beginning of the 19th century the church had fallen into a state of disrepair and major rebuilding and expansion work was carried out under the direction of the bath architect John Pinch
John Pinch the younger
John Pinch the younger was an architect, working mainly in the city of Bath, England, and surveyor to the Pulteney and Darlington estate...
, at a cost of £2,829.
The churchyard includes a memorial to the 12 miners killed in 1839 at Wellsway pit in Westfield
Westfield, Somerset
Westfield is a settlement lying on the Fosse Way between Radstock and Midsomer Norton in Somerset, England. In 2011 it was raised to the status of a civil parish....
when their rope was severed.
Since 2009 a major programme of restoration has been undertaken. The chancel has been given a new floor and the alter and choir stalls have been moved. Glass doors were constructed in the Lady Chapel and a new glass screen erected at the front of the St Barnabas Chapel. Some controversy arose when it was revealed that proposals to attach a 21 feet (6.4 m) mobile phone mast on the tower were under consideration to help fund the restoration work.