| Church of St. John the Baptist, Niton | |
The entrance to the Church of St. John the Baptist, Niton
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| Denomination | Church of England |
|---|---|
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. John the Baptist |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Niton, Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St. John the Baptist, Niton is a Church of England parish church in Niton, Isle of Wight.
Contents |
The church was founded by William FitzOsbern and given to an abbey in Normandy. In the Victorian era it was extensively restored and rebuilt.[1]
The nave may be 11th century,[2] as may be the Norman font.[3] A north aisle was added at the end of the 12th century and a south aisle shortly afterwards.[2] In the 14th century the chancel was rebuilt and the south porch was added.[2] In the 15th century a chapel was added south of the chancel and east of the south aisle, and a four-centred arch was inserted in the south wall of the chancel to link it with the chapel.[2] The north aisle was demolished, its arcade filled in and two-light Perpendicular Gothic windows inserted in each of the filled-in arches.[2] The Perpendicular Gothic[3] west tower was added towards the end of the 15th century.[2] The square-headed windows in the south aisle were inserted in the 16th century and the spire was added to the tower probably early in the 17th century.[2]
On the wall can be found a memorial portrait by John Flaxman, showing a woman holding pelicans in her hand in relief. The chancel has a modern reredos.
The registers, which date from 1560, include the following entry:
July the 1st, Anno Domini 1675. Charles II, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, etc., came safely ashore at Puckaster, after he had endured a great and dangerous storm at sea.."[4]
In front of the porch is a 19th century Celtic cross by Joseph Clarke[3] on the four steps of the old churchyard cross.
Near the Celtic cross a marble monument marks the grave of Edward Edwards, (1812–1886) the pioneer of the public library movement.
A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.