St. John the Baptist, Berwick St John, Wiltshire

Description

The parish church of St John the Baptist is an Early English cruciform edifice of stone, consisting of chancel, nave and transepts, and a finely ornamented low square central tower, terminating in battlements, of the date of Henry VII. and containing 6 bells and clock:there are monuments to the Grove and other families of distinction, and effigies, clad in mail, within mural arches, of Sir John Husey and Sir Robert Lucie: a stone coffin was found during the restoration of the church in 1861: the stained east window is a memorial to the family of Rev. C. A. Griffith M.A. rector 1842-80, to whom there is also a memorial window in the chancel, besides one to the Rev. Arthur Kemble M.A. rector 1880-90 and others to the Foot, Grove and Gilbert families: the curfew is tolled every evening, from September 10th to March 10th, a bequest for this purpose having been left by the Rev. John Gane in his will bearing date July 29th 1731: there are 270 sittings.