Description

TL08SW
7/125
23/05/67

THORPE ACHURCH
ACHURCH
Church of St. John the Baptist

(Formerly listed as Church of St. John)

GV
II

Church. Early and late C13, restored and enlarged c.1862 by William Slater.
Squared coursed limestone with ashlar tower and spire and Collyweston slate and
lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, transepts, south porch, north vestry and west
tower. South elevation of chancel of 3-window range of 2-light windows. Window
to right is late C13 with quatrefoil circle and carved label stops, other 2 are
mainly C19. Priest door to left of centre and single stage buttresses, with
gablets to, right of centre and far right. Corbel table supporting C19 gutter.
Steep gabled roof and ashlar gable parapets with finial. 5-light east window has
C19 tracery with trefoils. Flanking buttresses have gablets with Y-tracery
decoration. North elevation of chancel of one-window range with C19 two-light
window similar to south elevation. Flanking buttresses. South elevation of
chancel of 3 bays; 2-window range of C19 two-light windows. C19 corbel table,
supporting gutter, and steeply gabled roof with ashlar gable parapets and
finial. Bay to left has C19 gabled porch. Chamfered and moulded outer doorway
has corbelled responds with short shafts. Double chamfered inner doorway. South
transept breaks forward to right. Late C13 two-light south window has quatrefoil
circle and elongated trefoils. C19 two-light east window has medieval label
stops. C19 corbel table, ashlar gable parapet and steeply gabled roof. C19 north
aisle of 3-window range of 2-light windows with single-stage buttresses between.
Lean-to lead roof with plain ashlar parapet and corbel table. 2-light west
window. North transept, to left of north aisle, has 2-light window, similar to
south aisle, restored C19. Ashlar gable parapet with octagonal flue at apex. C19
organ chamber and vestry abuts transept to east and has 2-light north and east
windows. Buttresses at corners and abutment. Corbel table, ashlar gable parapet
and steeply gabled roof. West tower of 3 stages with plinth. 2-stage angle
buttresses to south-west corner of lower two stages. Polygonal stair turret to
north-west corner. Early C13 west door has 2 orders of shafts and roll-moulded
arch. 2 lancet windows above doorway. Quatrefoil circles in north and south
faces of second stage. 2-light bell-chamber openings, with Y-tracery, to each
face of upper stage. 2 openings also have trefoil circles. Hood mould is linked
by string course. Corbel table with carved heads linked by trefoil arcading.
Broach spire with 2 tiers of lucarnes. Interior: 3-bay nave arcade of C19
double-chamfered arches with quatrefoil piers and foliated capitals. Similar
double-chamfered arch from north aisle to transept. C13 double-chamfered chancel
arch and similar arches to transepts with corbelled responds. Early C13
stiff-leaf capital to north-east respond. Similar triple-chamfered tower arch.
C19 roof structures. Low cill, forming sedilia, to window to right of altar.
Plain octagonal font. C19 furnishings. Trefoil-head piscina in north transept.
C19 stained glass to east window, south window of chancel, and north transept
window. Monuments: Arthur Elmes died 16bS, reset oval wreathed tablet in tower
with cherub above and scull below. 3 other partially legible (:17/early C18
tablets in tower, 2 have armorial devices above, the other is a plain tablet.
Sir Thomas Powys died 1719, monument in south transept, said to be reset from
Lilford Church, by Robert Hartshorne. Large standing monument with detached
Corinthian columns and open segmental pediment: putti and drapery falling over
reclining figure below inscribed panel, flanked by figures of Truth and Justice.
Charles and Henry Powys died 1804 and 1812, inscribed tablet to west wall of
south transept has military still-life below. Henrietta Maria Powys died 1820,
inscribed tablet to east wall of north transept has still-life of books and
bowls below. Thomas Powys, second Lord Lilford, died 1825, inscribed tablet
alongside. 3 similar C19 tablets to east wall of south transept have pediments
over. Various C18 inscribed floor tablets to Powys family in south transept and
mid C19 brass inscribed tablets to Powys family in transepts and chancel. Thomas
Atherton Powys died 1882, marble medallion, with profile, to right of altar. The
Powys family lived at Lilford Hall (q.v.). Robert Browne (1550-1630), who was
Rector of Achurch, formed the first Independant Congregation.
(Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.427; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.3,
p.135).

Listing NGR: TL0213883136

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St John the Baptist, Thorpe Achurch at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17557730

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
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  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper