A gem for the antiquarian, the Wiltshire church of St John the Baptist at Little Somerford is unaccountably missed from so many guides. Perhaps the placement on a busy road opposite an abandoned garage is to blame. Anyway the visitor who passes by without venturing inside has ill served their curiosity.
A church was certainly here in 1251, when the parish was established around it, prior to that the church was under the control of Malmesbury abbey. Of that original church it is possible the nave survives, the chancel is known to have been built later in the 13'th century. The porch and tower date from the later part of the 15'th century. A simple structure then, but.....
...the excitement lies in the interior fitments and decoration. Separating the nave from the chancel is a fine carved screen, dating from the 14'th century, with well preserved mouldings. In front of this is a low Jacobean pulpit. Look up in the nave and you will see a boarded tympanum (infill in an arch), painted red and decorated with two angels surrounding the text of the ten commandments. The tympanum dates from the 15'th century and is an exceptional feature.
Look back along the nave and there is a Royal Coat of Arms from 1602, from the same period you will see along the wall cartouches (painted framed ovoids, in form based upon Egyptian art) containing texts.
The church occupies a constrained site fronted by a low stone wall, it is normally open. Photographed for theChurchPhotographer by Nick Temple-Fry in 2011.
