St John The Baptist Church of England is a historic church that was allegedly founded in response to Pagan worship on the nearby White Horse Hill in the 12th century. The church has a rare collection of 14th-century wall paintings of Peter, Paul, Herod, and Salomé with the Baptist’s head on a platter. It also has beautiful medieval stained glass and exceptional 15th-century to 17th-century woodwork, including fine bench ends, panelling, pulpit, and rood screen.
The church has fallen into a poor state of repair and was placed on the English Heritage ‘At Risk’ Register, and even faced imminent closure. However, restoration works are set to start in the summer of 2015 by the local community, allowing for the preservation of the church for future generations. The church is Grade II* Listed, a testament to its historical and cultural significance.
Posted by Oxfordshire Churches on 2015-04-23 06:20:57