St John the Baptist Church, Avon Dassett
Warwickshire
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About this church
A masterpiece of the Gothic Revival
This Victorian church, with its soaring spire, is a masterpiece built in fourteenth-century Gothic style and is set amongst trees in the Avon Dassett hills - a lovely place for a walk.
Charles Buckeridge built it in golden Hornton sandstone in 1869 to replace a medieval church, whose east window he reset in the west wall of the tower.
The high-ceilinged interior is inspiring and the style throughout is largely fourteenth century. The chancel remains a good example of a properly furnished sanctuary of the period, with oak altar and choirstalls, three stone seldilia and a grey Purbeck marble reredos with a cross at the centre. A recess in the north wall of the chancel contains the fine tomb of a deacon, thought to be Hugo, who died in c.1240.
The spire can be seen for miles and a ring of five bells.
The historic village has many tales to tell too and has an excellent pub too, so why not make a day of it!
Please make a contribution towards the upkeep of this church via our at our red donate button. A donation can also by made by texting "AVD" to 70970 to donate £5 or 70191 to donate £10.
Access information
Church entrance accessed via approximately 30 steps from the road. Once inside the nave is step free and there are steps up to the chancel.
Facilities & hire
Some of the pews are fixed and some are moveable so this provides a good venue for a performance.
This church has electricity. It is not heated and there is no fixed lighting.
There are no toilet facilities.
Parking is on the roadside.
If you would like to hire this church please contact west@thecct.org.uk
- Church available for hire
Directions
12 miles north west of Banbury, off the B4100, 4 miles south of M40 Junction 12. The church is adjacent to the main road in the village of Avon Dassett.
Transport
Nearest railway station: Banbury (7 miles).
History & further information
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Northamptonshire & Warwickshire. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church:
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire County Guide
If you are interested in finding out more about the history of this church, you can do so by downloading the guide below. These guides are usually also available for purchase at the church:
Avon Dassett Church Guide Book.
To find out more from the church Friends Group, why not follow their Facebook page ?
Community information
Click on the link below to download a copy of the church plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church.
Church plans are a living document which combines information on the church’s history and its current use, outlines maintenance and repair needs, combines this with feedback and recommendations from the community, and concludes with an action plan setting out agreed short, medium and long term goals to support the sustainable use and care of the church.
This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!
Latest church plan:
Avon Dassett Church Plan Nov 25
St John the Baptist's Church is in our West region.
Useful links:
- The Friends of St John the Baptist's Church - Contact Lily Hope-Frost on lily.oldrectory@yahoo.com
- Visit Coventry
- Visit Warwickshire – Visit Warwickshire
- Enjoy Warwickshire
- Warwick Castle
- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
- The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry
- A list of Churches in Warwickshire and Coventry
- Diocese of Coventry
- Diocese of Birmingham
