More information : [SD 6141 7392] St. John the Baptist's Church [T.U.] (1) The church of ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, originally called ST. MICHAEL'S (It is referred to as such in 1513) consists of chancel with north organ chamber and vestry and south aisle, nave with north and south aisle, south porch and west tower. The building is of 15c. date, said to have been rebuilt c. 1415, but the windows of the chancel and south chancel aisle appear to be of the 16c., and the east end may have been reconstructed at the same time., or the windows may be insertions. There are some remains of a 13c. structure, fragments of which have been used in the rebuilding in the responds of the north arcade, and a sepoldral slab 6 feet 5 inches long with a border of dog-tooth ornament was found in 1907 when the church was restored and the organ chamber and vestry built. There was an interior renovation in 1847. The walls are of rubble with gritstone dressings throughout, once covered with plaster, which now remains only on the north side. The marble font is of 18c. date. In the churchyard is a circular stone sundial shaft without plate on three octagonal steps. The church existed in 1087 as appears from Domesday Book. The patronage would belong to the lord of the manor. In the time of HENRY II, ADAM de MONTBEGON granted TUNSTALL to CROXTON Abbey in Leicestershire. The church would be served by a stipendiary priest or by one of the canons, but before 1230 a vicarage was ordained. Even then it was the rule for one of the canons to be appointed. At the Dissolution the Crown retained the rectory with the advowson of the vicarage but in 1588 sold them to EDWARD DOWNING and another, who quickly transferred it to FRANCIS TUNSTALL of THURLAND, with whose family it remained till 1885. In 1894 it passed from Mr NORTH to the present vicar. Rev. J.A. BURROW. [List of vicars c. 1230-1898] (2)
|