Description

1.
5363 BATH STREET
(East side)

Parish Church of
ST 7747 NE 10/1 St John the Baptist

II*

2.
A Saxon church stood here or close by. The present church has vestiges of C12,
C13 and C14 work but was virtually rebuilt in the C19. The chancel restored in
1844, the rest 1852-66 by C E Giles for the Rev W J E Bennett. An excellent
example of Victorian Anglo-Catholic remodelling in Decorated style with pious
foreign touches (eg Rayonnant). Of the Saxon period survive some carved stones
(probably C11) under the tower. There is a Norman archway into the Lady Chapel,
medieval corbels in north aisle and in Lady Chapel. Two medieval chantry chapels
are incorporated, St John's (endowed 1377) and St Andrew's (opened 1412). The church
is built of rubble with cornice and parapets and large gargoyles. 7 or 8 bay aisled
and clerestoried nave. 2 bay chancel with north and south chapels. 2 additional
north chapels. 2 storey north porch with rood in gable (completing Via Crucis
(Church Street) (qv). Gabled south porch also with sculpture. Tower with
traceried parapet and spire over east bay of south aisle. Mostly 2 light ogee
windows. West front has tall gable over geometric 4 light west window, niche with
statue of St John in gable. Central west door flanked by canopied niches containg
statues of the 4 evangelists (by James Forsyth). Side doors with cut-off windows
containing foiled tracery. Canopied pinnacles to gable. The interior Pointed
arcade, 3 bays without capitals, high and wide octagonal plinths, roundels with
scenes from the New Testament in the spandrels. Most of the windows have coloured
glass (mostly by C E Kempe and Co), grisaille in the clerestory, narrative in the
aisles.
An excellent description of the history, the interior and the memorials is
contained in the "Guide to the Church of St John the Baptist, Frome, Selwood"
(1975).

Rich detailing, the baptistary has splendid pavement and carved draper dado
(also contains the John Stevens memorial. Lady Chapel (Boyle family vault) which
is ornate and has a Norman doorway, C15 corbels and a number of marble memorials
(2 by R Westmacott) plus a shrouded cadaver said for no reason to be that of
Edmund Leversedge (buried at Westbury). The church furniture, paving etc are
consistently of a high Victorian standard. The churchyard has low rubble walls
with pyramidal coping, a number of corner piers and iron gates. Via Crucis and
Fountain. See under Church Street.

Listing NGR: ST7769747906

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St John the Baptist, Frome at Wikipedia
• Church of St John the Baptist, Frome official website
• Wikidata Q5117446

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

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)