Beckford Church

20 September 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church at Beckford must have Saxon origins as the earliest reference to it is 9th Century.

However, the surviving building dates mainly from the the late Norman and Early English periods

 

 

 

The church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, is approached from the village through a wooden lychgate commemorating the dead of World War I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church is in three distinct sections – nave, tower and chancel.  The nave is Norman in origin, though most of the windows have been replaced over the years, some as late as the Perpendicular period

 

 

The 14th Century tower uses the original Norman chancel (heavily buttressed) as its base, and a new (Early English) chancel was built on at the east end

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         A fine Norman decorated arch and tympanum surmounts the south doorway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Left) A Jacobean wooden screen, incorporating parts of an older one, separates the tower from the chancel

 

 

 

 

(Right) An original Norman arch remains between the nave and tower area.  The screen and chancel are seen in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Left)  The 15th Century font situated in the nave

 

 

 

(Right)  The bright sun throws the colours of one of the stained glass windows on to the pews in the nave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fine 1/40 scale model of the church was presented to the church in 2004 by Paul Buckley, who made it to commemorate his Golden Wedding anniversary.  It is on display in the tower area, which it shares with the church organ

 

 

 

 

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