Details
SX 45 SW ST. JOHN ST. JOHN
6/282 Church of St. John
23.1.63
GV I
Parish Church. C12 tower, early C14 work to nave and chancel, porch dated 1605, C19
restoration dated 1851 on east window surround of chancel. Slatestone and sandstne
random rubble, with metamorphic stone quoins, granite dressings and C19 limestone
dressings, slate roofs with crestings, pyramidal over tower.
West tower, nave and chancel in one, with south porch. Tower with blocked west door:
nave and chancel appear to have been rebuilt c. early C14, plinth to north but not to
south. Porch probably rebuilt 1605, on site of earlier porch in front of C12 doorway.
Rebuilt, expect for tower, 1867-68, by William White, in Early English style.
Short 2-stage tower, stepped at 2nd stage. Relieving arch remaining from former west
doorway, round-headed lancet at first stage north and south, hollow-chamfered. At
2nd stage, all sides except east have flat-headed lancet with slate bell-louvres.
Butttress to north.
Nave and chancel in one, with 3-bay nave and single bay chancel. To north, the
plinth remains, and rubble pilasters; nive has 2 C19 windows with 4-centred arches,
of 3 lights, and to west end a C17 2-light window in granite with flat head and hood
mould, hollow-chamfered surround and mullion. South side of nave has metamorphic
stone quoins and similar C19 window at west end, 3-light C19 window at east end of
cusped lancets with 4-centred arch and hood mould.
The chancel continues the plinth to north and east, not to south; stepped raised
coped verges and cross finial. 3-light C19 east window with cusped heads and hood
mould, dated on cill. The north side has metamorphic stone quoins on the pilaster.
C14 north window of 2 cusped lancets in granite, hollow-chamfered, with central
mullion carried up to flat hood mould. South side has C14 2-light granite window, of
cusped lancets with quatrefoil over, all hollow-chamfered with 4-centred arch and
hood mould.
Gabled south porch has stepped raised coped verges and cross finial, datestone set
low in wall. Round-arched doorway with rendered head of C20 and C18 slate sundial
with gnomon set over. Inside the porch, a C19 common rafter roof, inner doorway has
chamfered jambs on plinth with imposts supporting round arch, tympanum blocked; C19
double doors with strap hinges.
Interior Tower has pointed rubble arch with imposts and plinth, deep splayed reveals
to north and south windows, ceiled. Rave and chancel have C19 roof, with 5 bays to
nave and 2 to chancel, with common rafters, upper collar and collar purlin, one row
of purlins, principal rafters braced at bases, with larger brace at ,junction between
nave and chancel. All windows with chamfered rere-arches.
Fittings: Sanctuary chair in chancel, dated MA 1635, with straight carved back and
scrolled arms. Plain C19 octagonal stone font in tower. Late C19 wooden pews and
pulpit, panelled C19 wooden reredos. 3 C19 brass candelabra in nave for oil lamps.
In the nave, a marble tablet with oval inscription panel, to John Sweet, 1786 and
Isabella his wife, 1790. In chancel, round-headed slate tablet with fluted pilasters
and keystone and shaped apron, with laudatory Latin verses, to Elizabeth Beele, 1747.
North window in nave has fragments of medieval glass reset in roundels and diamonds.
Windows in chancel, south nave and central north nave window have late C19 and early
C20 stained glass.
(Sources: Radcliffe, E.: Buildings of England: Cornwall 1970).
Listing NGR: SX4079153693
