Church of St John the Baptist, Upper Eldon
Encyclopedia
The Church of St John the Baptist, Upper Eldon, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the parish
of King's Somborne
, Hampshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church stands in the grounds of Eldon House, to the east of the A3057 road, some 4 miles (6 km) south of Stockbridge
.
in the Redundant Churches Fund (the forerunners of the Churches Conservation Trust) on 31 May 1973. In 1975 the church was repaired, including re-tiling the roof and re-plastering the interior. Further repairs were undertaken in 1984. The church is open daily for visitors.
rubble
, partly rendered
, with stone dressings. The rebuilt east wall is in brick, and the roofs are tiled. Its plan consists of a single rectangular cell 32 feet (9.8 m) long by 16 in 8 in (5.08 m) long. The north wall contains two original single-light windows about 15 inch (0.381 m) wide and 3 foot (0.9144 m) tall. At the east end of the north wall is part of another window that was cut in half when the east wall was rebuilt. The west wall contains one similar window, as does the south wall which also contains another window cut in half. The east wall contains another similar window, a wider 19th-century copy of the original windows. At each corner of the church is a buttress
. Around the rest of the church, other than along the east end, is a moulded
string course at the level of the window sills. In the south wall is a doorway with a pointed arch that was rebuilt in the 20th century. Around the church are nine consecration cross
stones. Each of these consists of a circle in which there are five holes which formerly held metal crosses.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of King's Somborne
King's Somborne
King's Somborne is a village in Hampshire, England. The village lies on the edge of the valley of the River Test.-General information:The 'Sombornes' comprise the scattered village of King's Somborne, together with the hamlets of Little Somborne, Up Somborne, and Ashley.Between King's Somborne and...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. The church stands in the grounds of Eldon House, to the east of the A3057 road, some 4 miles (6 km) south of Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Hampshire
Stockbridge is a small town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of and a population of little under 600 people according to the 2001 census in Hampshire, England. It lies on the River Test, in the Test Valley district and renowned for trout fishing. The A30 road goes through...
.
History
The church was built in the later part of the 12th century. By the 18th century its condition was dilapidated and the east wall was rebuilt in 1729. Its fabric subsequently deteriorated again, and in 1864 it was being used as a cowshed. Its condition continued to be bad, and in 1973 it had the appearance of a farm building, and a report stated "Its sole occupant is a beautiful white owl". The church was declared redundant on 21 December 1971, and it was vestedVesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Redundant Churches Fund (the forerunners of the Churches Conservation Trust) on 31 May 1973. In 1975 the church was repaired, including re-tiling the roof and re-plastering the interior. Further repairs were undertaken in 1984. The church is open daily for visitors.
Architecture
St John's is constructed in flintFlint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
, partly rendered
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
, with stone dressings. The rebuilt east wall is in brick, and the roofs are tiled. Its plan consists of a single rectangular cell 32 feet (9.8 m) long by 16 in 8 in (5.08 m) long. The north wall contains two original single-light windows about 15 inch (0.381 m) wide and 3 foot (0.9144 m) tall. At the east end of the north wall is part of another window that was cut in half when the east wall was rebuilt. The west wall contains one similar window, as does the south wall which also contains another window cut in half. The east wall contains another similar window, a wider 19th-century copy of the original windows. At each corner of the church is a buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
. Around the rest of the church, other than along the east end, is a moulded
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
string course at the level of the window sills. In the south wall is a doorway with a pointed arch that was rebuilt in the 20th century. Around the church are nine consecration cross
Consecration crosses
Crosses on the walls of a catholic church or cathedral showing where the catholic bishop has anointed the church with chrism oil in order to consecrate it "for the Glory of God". There is usually a place for a candle in front of each cross which is lit on the anniversary of the consecration. The...
stones. Each of these consists of a circle in which there are five holes which formerly held metal crosses.
See also
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England