St John's Church, Stamford, Lincolnshire

Address:
St John's Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2DB
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Open daily from 10am - 5pm. For further information please contact the Local Community Officer via email [email protected].
  • St John the Baptist is one of five medieval churches in Stamford, surviving from a total of 14. Photograph © Graham White.
  • The nave arcades at St John's are typical of a mid-15th century Perpendicular building, and are in the distinctive style that has the outer orders of the arches continuing down to the bases at ground level without intervening capitals.
  • The nave and aisle roofs contain a collection of horizontal winged angels contemporary with the church of 1451 but painted during the 1856 restoration. The nave roof wall posts rest on corbels carved from stone in the shape of grotesque heads and possible caricatures of local people.
  • A memorial plaque to Sir Malcolm Sargent, the musician and conductor who sang in the choir and also learned to play the organ in St John’s, can be found on the south wall of the church. Sir Malcolm. © Graham White
  • The font has quatrefoil panels (four ‘petal’ design) and dates from the mid-15th century. The wooden font cover is 17th century. © Graham White
  • The benches in the nave and the choir stalls by local architect Edward Browning and date from the major restoration of 1856. © Graham White
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A blessing of angels and green men

The imposing medieval church of St John the Baptist is wedged in an unlikely setting between two commercial buildings in the nationally important historic town centre of Stamford, and the well-proportioned pinnacled tower is a notable landmark. Yet take the time to step inside and you'll be rewarded with the sight of angels on high in the fifteenth-century roof timbers painted in glorious black, red and yellow.

What's more, above their outstretched wings are some little green men with grimacing, leafy faces. Stained glass scatters light across the flamboyant beautifully carved Victorian oak pews and tiled floor, further adding to the beauty of this breathtaking church. The aisles and churchyard contain an excellent collection of interesting seventeenth to nineteenth century monuments.

To support the work at this church, please consider donating by texting the following:

To donate £5 please send "STJ" to 70970.

To give £10 please send "STJ" to 70191.

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