The Parish Church of St John Baptist
Church Measurements
Internal Length 48m ( 158 ft)
External length 55m (180 feet)
Max Width32m (104 ft)
Height of Nave 17m (57 ft)
Height of tower 49m (162 feet)
Gloucestershire's largest parish church looks southward across the market place, hub of the historic town's prosperity. To the north of the church is the walled precinct of the former Augustinian monastery founded by Henry I in 1117. There are few documents to help interpret its building history, and to answer questions such as 'When was it begun?' we must look at its structure.
It is probable that after the abbey had been founded, partly on the site of a Saxon church, a new parish church was commenced, a relic of which exists in the form of a late Norman doorway in the north wall of the Lady Chapel.
There is evidence of an early 13th-century rebuilding of the chancel and the nave, but the most substantial part of the church dates from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Cirencester, along with other 'wool churches' is thus a building of mainly late medieval design. No one is certain who paid for the church or why it was so large in a town of only 2,500 people. There were ten wool merchants in mid 14th-century Cirencester and the abbey had extensive flocks of sheep. The coats of arms in the nave are mainly of nobles and of the abbey, whose arms appear above the doorway into the tower.
This is just a flavour of the history available in the guides which can be bought from the Church shop in the North west corner of the Church.
St John Baptist has had a set of bells in the church tower since around 1499. The full complement of 12 bells was installed in 1722 and the church was amongst the first to have such.
During 1984-85 the bell frame was replaced and a new bell added.
The clock dates from 1870. Its carillon sounds every three hours with the hymn tune 'O Faith of England.'
Facing on to the market place and built above the porch is the Town Hall, an historic building in continual use today for choir practice, music groups and children's activities. It was refurbished in 1994 and contains four Benefaction Boards that record perpetual gifts made to the church.
The carving on the front of the Town Hall, the stone pinnacles and crenellated effect make the Town Hall fascia particularly interesting and noteworthy.
Some of the many features to see are the Trinity Chapel, the Catherine Chapel and the Garstang Chapel. Near the Garstang chapel is the famous Ann Boleyn Cup. There is a rare Stuart coat-of-arms and the 14th Century font, newly re-sited near the South Porch entrance.
Complete restoration under Sir George Gilbert Scott.
1965-87
Major restoration of roofs and fabric
2005 Restoration of altar platform in the sanctuary - first stage of extensive programme for church re-ordering.
1539-40:Abbey dissolved
and demolished
1865-67:Complete restoration under Sir George Gilbert Scott
1965-87:Major restoration of roofs and fabric
2005:Restoration of altar area in the sanctuary - stage 1 of extensive programme for church re-ordering
