Description

TL 18 SW LITTLE GIDDING LITTLE GIDDING

3/74 Parish Church of 28.1.58 St John Evangelist

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Parish church. Former medieval church restored and altered by Nicholas Ferrar c.1625, rebuilt in 1714. Restored and altered in 1853; late C19 south vestry. Walls of red brick with dressings of Ketton stone. Roofs of Collyweston stone slates. West elevation: Moulded plinth and cornice with giant angle pilasters rising above cornice and surmounted by small obelisks with '17' and '14' carved on pedestals. Plain copings to parapet rising to a bell cote with rusticated pilasters and surmounted by a large obelisk tapering to a flat pierced pyramidal head with a ball finial. Doorway with recessed moulded architrave and keystone rising through frieze panel with painted inscription 'This is none other but the House of God and the gate of heaven', moulded cornice above supported by shaped console brackets; boarded oak door and rectangular fanlight with twisted mullions. (North and south walls to nave each with two transomed windows with square-headed arches, plain architraves with keyblocks and moulded sills). Interior: Reredos rearranged in 1853 with one large and two small wooden tablets with cornice and segmental pediments; brass tablets inscribed with Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer c.1625. Panelling c.1714, in chancel of oak with wooden benches in front supporting a small Doric arcade with moulded cornice, and in nave to full height, raised above C19 collegiate seating. Black and white stone chequered pavement c.1714. Communion table with three original balusters; font c.1625, small brass basin on a balustered stem with brass cover in form of a crown with crosses, fleur-de-lis and trefoils; brass lectern C15 with eagle desk, moulded stem and base, (the font and lectern were given by Mrs Ferrar). Hour glass cdl.625, wrought iron bracket with stand forming a crown; chandelier inscribed to the memory of Rev. Sam. Ed. Hopkinson, d.1841; candle sconces of slender balusters c.1920 by W.A.Lee. Stained glass c.1853. Stuart arms embroidered on fabric by members of the Ferrar family, on west wall. Monuments and floor slabs see RCHM. Nicholas Ferrar (b.1598-d.1637) and his family founded a community in c.1626 at Little Gidding they were visited by Charles I on three occasions. The church was severely damaged by Cromwellian soldiers in 1646 and was almost entirely rebuilt in 1714 when the north transept and west tower were demolished.

RCHM Huntingdonshire p101 VCH Huntingdonshire p53 Pevsner Buildings of England p284

Listing NGR: TL1270481631

External Links

• Parish Church of St John the Evangelist at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17527831

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)