St John the Baptist Church, Avon Dassett, Warwickshire

Address:
Avon Dassett, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 2AH
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Open daily
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Interior of St John the Baptist, Avon Dassett
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Overview
  • Map
  • What's nearby

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, which 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.

In 2009, as part of our 40th birthday celebration, we released a special recording of the 110-year-old bells from this church. The bells were able to ring again on 21 February, for the first time in 30 years, thanks to the restored bell tower, completed via a £700,000 restoraton project.

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. 

Thank you

For further information about this church please contact the Local Community Officer by email tgenever@thecct.org.uk 

  • Access information
    Church entrance accessed via approximately 30 steps from the road.
  • Facilities & Hire

    This church has electricity but is not heated and there are no toilet facilities.

    Some of the pews are fixed and some are moveable so this provides a good venue for a performance.

    No parking outside the church.

    If you would like to hire this church please contact west@thecct.org.uk

  • 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

     

  • Community information

    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 July 2024.pdf 1

    St John the Baptist's Church is in our West region.

     

    Useful links

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