Cherington, St John the Baptist Church

St John the Baptist Church, Cherington

St John the Baptist Church in Cherington dates largely to the 13th century. This imposing Grade I listed building is built to a simple plan, with a nave, chancel, north aisle, south porch, and west tower. It is well worth visiting for its wonderful collection of heraldic stained glass and the ornate 14th-century tomb of a 'franklin'.

History

The village of Cherington grew up on the south bank of the River Stour, as a hamlet linked to nearby Brailes, across the river. The lordship was in the hands of the Earl of Warwick by the 13th century, but had passed to the Lucy family of Charlecote sometime before 1330. It may be the Lucy family who built, or rebuilt, the church we see today.

The oldest part of the present church is the nave, which dates to the early years of the 13th century and boasts a 15th-century timber roof. The chancel dates to later in the 13th century, around the time that the north aisle and the lowest section of the west tower were added. The porch was built in the 14th century and the clerestory, nave roof, and upper half of the tower come from the 15th century.

The church was restored multiple times over the centuries, including in 1877, 1909, and 1917.

The Franklin's Tomb

In the north-east corner of the nave is an ornate 14th-century tomb under a decorative arch. Atop the tomb is a full-length effigy of a man in loose robes.

The style of dress marks him as a franklin, a class of landowner below the level of a noble but still of free birth. The term is most famous for its appearance in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales', where he devotes a chapter to 'The Franklin's Tale'.

Local tradition says that the man depicted here is Robert le Fraunkelyn, who was known to own land at Cherington in 1262. The tomb itself is much later than the effigy and dates to the early 14th century. Unusually, there is a stone piscina built into the north side of the tomb base. This would have been used for washing holy vessels used in saying masses for the franklin's soul.

The authoritative 'Victoria County History' describes the effigy as possibly unique in England.

The 16th-century altar frontal

The chancel arch dates to around 1500, and set into the south wall of the chancel is a late 13th-century priest's door. Near the altar is a piscina from the same period.

The altar frontal was originally a reredos in a private Catholic chapel at Weston House and dates to the late Tudor period. It was stored in an outbuilding for over three decades after Weston House was pulled down and only installed here in 1909.

Medieval glass fragments, south-west nave window

Heraldic Glass

Immediately to the right of the south door as you enter is a 14th-century window holding armorial glass. The glass is not original to Cherington; it was brought here from a manor house at Kiddington, Oxfordshire, by Dr John Warner, rector of Cherington from 1741-1780. Some of the glass fragments come from the European continent.

The east window is 13th century. The glass was installed during the 1870s restoration, as was the glass in the four windows in the south wall of the chancel. All of these windows were dedicated to local people of the period.

The east window dates to 1877 and depicts the Crucifixion and the Ascension. It is dedicated to two Dickins brothers, the first of whom died in the 1857 Indian Mutiny.

The north chancel window has 16th-century glass depicting the familiar Tudor rose symbol.

14th-century stained glass, north aisle

North Transept Windows

The north transept dates to the latter part of the 13th century. The east window holds the oldest glass in the church; a head of Christ in the lower right corner dating to the 14th century. The remainder of the glass panels were gathered by Dr Warner. Look for the striking Head of Christ, which was also brought to Cherington from Weston House, and two coats of arms to the Underhill family.

In the north wall of the north transept are three windows holding yet more historical glass. Each of the windows serves as a memorial to a local family and reuses glass brought here by Dr Warner.

The easternmost window has glass depicting a butterfly and birds. This is a memorial to the Gibbard family. The central window depicts the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket and is to the Heald family. It may have been intended for the nearby church at Sutton-under-Brailes, which is dedicated to St Thomas. The westernmost north transept window depicts the Four Evangelists and is dedicated to the Gillett family.

The franklin's effigy

Medieval Corbels

The church boasts a collection of wonderful carved stone corbels supporting the 15th-century roof timbers. The corbels in the four corners of the nave depict demonic creatures, perhaps as a warning to worshippers of the torments that awaited those who did not live according to the dictates of the Church.

Other corbels depict grotesque animals with oversized snouts and large eyes. On the north side of the nave are two corbels depicting humans, perhaps in honour of people who gave money to the church. One corbel depicts a man and the other, a woman. These may be members of the Lucy family, who held the manor from 1330-1680.

Reverend Christopher Smith memorial, 1688

On the wall is a striking monument to Christopher Smith, who died in 1688. The effusive epitaph is typical of the period and reads:

Passer-by, on reading this memorial, reflect on your own life's fickle, fleeting fortune.

Here lies Christopher Smith whom in his lifetime his children found loving, his friends found kind-hearted, his parishioners found sincere, his peers found of sound doctrine and one and all found steadfast.

A priest of this church, learned, famed and loyal, this great theologian was outstanding in teaching and intellect; he was no less conspicuous in his way of life. He excelled in various faculties, though not professing any, and was therefore worthy of this, the most praiseworthy of inscriptions, because he deemed himself unworthy of the humblest.

Of all the abundant comforts of his life he readily recognised the greatest to be his wife, Constance Smith, a woman of charm, modesty and an outstanding disposition and held in the highest affection by him. Just as he was distinguished amongst men, so did she shine among women - undoubtedly a most blessed woman who was a daughter of the supreme church and married to a supreme husband.

They were ever equal companions in their views and in all turns of fortune. For many years they experienced great mutual joy with humility and with the approach of death, they suffered great illness with calm resolve. Finally, in those painful times, they yielded cheerfully to death. While each of their bodies repose here in the cloisters of the dead, their souls rejoice, love, hope and exult in the embrace of the Redeemer.

He died 10th day of July A.D. 1688 [aged] 78.

She died 7th day of May A.D. 1686 [aged] 66.

At the west end of the nave is a touching war memorial. This is unusual in that it displays not only the names of the 17 men of Cherington who died in WWI, but also the names of 46 men who served but survived the conflict. Near the memorial stands the font, installed during the Victorian restoration. Looking down on the font is a window holding fragments of medieval and later glass assembled over the course of the 19th and 20th-century restorations.

The WWII memorial plaque

Visiting

Cherington church is a delight. The combination of the Franklin's Tomb and the excellent collection of historical stained glass makes it a must-see, and the location in a quiet village setting is simply wonderful.

We didn't see any dedicated car park but it was easy to park along the road. The church was open when we visited and, as far as we can determine, is open daily to visitors. Do make an effort to see the beautiful church at Sutton-under-Brailes, less than a mile to the north-east.

Note: do not mistake this Cherington for the village of the same name in Gloucestershire.