HAMMERBEAMS

St John the Baptist church stands on an old pagan holy site where locals would come to celebrate the main festivals of the year, including the Summer Solstice.

 

As Christianity arrived, a church was built on the site - a church at Badingham was mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). The early Saxon church was rebuilt in the 12th century to be the church we have today. 

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To acknowledge the early use of the site, the church was dedicated to St John the Baptist whose patronal festival falls on 24 June, not long after the Summer Solstice.

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The church comprises a nave without aisles, a south porch, a west tower supported by buttresses and a chancel with a vestry to the north of it.

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The roof of the nave (of about 1506) is an exceptional eight bay single hammerbeam design considred to be of national importance and a remarkable survivor of early 16th century craftmanship. It is a highly significant 'Angel' roof covered in lead, with original stencilling, traces of medieval paint and 16 rare carved corbel angels.

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The church containsa fine late 15th century carved octagonal font depicting the Seven Sacrements and the Baptism of Christ.

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There are two tombs in te chancel, an alter tomb of a member of the Carbonell family  and the more elaborate Cotton tomb which was built in 1631. I commemorates the life of William and Lucie Cotton and is set on the north wall of the chancel. The Cotton tomb has been assessed as having high local significance and high regional significance  as a work of art.

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Hammerbeams, Heritage and Health will preserve and extend this heritage.

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