Parish Church History
Church Measurements |
|
Internal Length |
48m ( 158 ft) |
External length |
55m (180 feet) |
Max Width |
32m (104 ft) |
Height of Nave |
17m (57 ft) |
Height of tower |
49m (162 feet) |
Gloucestershire's largest parish church looks southward across the market place, hub of the historic towns's prosperity. To the north of the church is the walled precinct of the former Augustinian monastery founded by Henry I in 1117. There are few documents to help interpret its building history, and to answer questions such as 'When was it begun?' we must look at its structure.
|
||
It is probable that after the abbey had been founded, partly on the site of a Saxon church, a new parish church was commenced, a relic of which exists in the form of a late Norman doorway in the north wall of the Lady Chapel. There is evidence of an early 13th-century rebuilding of the chancel and the nave, but the most substantial part of the church dates from the 15th and 16th centuries Cirencester, along with other 'wool churches' is thus a building of mainly late medieval design. No one is certain who paid for the church or why it was so large in a town of only 2,500 people. There were ten wool merchants in mid 14th-century Cirencester and the abbey had extensive flocks of sheep. The coats of arms in the nave are mainly of nobles and of the abbey, whose arms appear above the doorway into the tower...... (Text extract from the Pitkin Guide to Cirencester Parish Church of St John Baptist - available from the church bookstall or the Corner Stone Bookshop) |
|
|
|
St John Baptist has had a set of bells in the church tower since around 1499. The full complement of 12 bells was installed in 1722 and the church was amongst the first to have such. During 1984-85 the bell frame was replaced and a new bell added. The clock dates from 1870. Its carillon sounds every three hours with the hymn tune 'O Faith of England.' |
Facing on to the market place and built above the porch is the Town Hall, an historic building in continual use today for choir practice, music groups and children's activities. It was refurbished in 1994 and contains four Benefaction Boards that record perpetual gifts made to the church. The carving on the front of the Town Hall, the stone pinnacles and crenellated effect make the Town Hall fascia particularly interesting and noteworthy.
See also: |
The Ann Boleyn Cop made in 1535 The rare Stuart coat-of-arms The 14th Century Font
|
To ensure you gain the maximum enjoyment from your visit, please ask for a guide book or leaflet from the Stewards at the Bookstall. |
|
For further information please contact the Parish office on 01285 659317 |
|