Church of St John Baptist, Pitney explained

Church of St John Baptist
Coordinates:51.0532°N -2.7937°W
Location:Pitney, Somerset, England
Built:13th and 14th century
Designation1:Grade II* listed building
Designation1 Offname:Church of St John Baptist
Designation1 Date:17 April 1959
Designation1 Number:1056546

The Anglican Church of St John Baptist in Pitney, Somerset, England, was built in the 13th and 14th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

History

The church was built in the 13th century with the tower being added in the 14th. The church underwent Victorian restoration in 1853 and 1874 which involved rebuilding large parts of the building,[1] including the removal of the west gallery.[2] During the restoration work a Saxon bronze brooch was discovered, which is now in the British Museum and known as the "Pitney Brooch".[3] [4]

The parish is part of the benefice of Drayton, Long Sutton with Long Load, Muchelney and Pitney which is part of the Langport Team Ministry within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[5]

Architecture

The stone building has hamstone dressing and clay tiled roofs. It consists of a four-bay nave and two-bay chancel with a south transept. The three-stage tower is supported by corner buttresses.[1] The tower contains six bells. This includes two of which were replaced and additional bell added in 2014.[6]

Most of the interior fittings are 19th century except the 17th century pulpit and lectern and 14th or 15th century font.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Church of St. John Baptist. National Heritage List for England. Historic England. 15 April 2018.
  2. Web site: St John the Baptist. A Church Near You. Church of England. 15 April 2018.
  3. Web site: Pitney Brooch. British Museum. 15 April 2018.
  4. Web site: St John the Baptist. National Churches Trust. 15 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180416012801/https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore-churches/st-john-baptist-pitney?map_link=true. 16 April 2018. dead.
  5. Web site: Our Churches. Langport Team Ministry. 15 April 2018.
  6. Web site: Pitney, Somerset, St John the Baptist. Keltek Trust. 15 April 2018.