St John the Baptist Church, Itchen Abbas

Saint JOHN BAPTIST, to whom this church in Itchen-Abbas is dedicated, is a person on the threshold of the Old and New Testaments (just like the Holy Family with Mary and Joseph). His parents are Zacharias and Elizabeth. After the announcement of the Incarnation of God through them, the Mother of God visits her relative Elizabeth, who will give birth to a son in old age, namely John the Baptist. He is half a year older than Jesus and is considered his forerunner/pioneer. He lives in the desert, preaches repentance from sins to the Jewish population and baptizes them in the Jordan. Jesus also comes there to be baptized, and is filled with the Holy Spirit who descends upon him from heaven.
The feast day of Saint John Baptist in the calendar of saints is June 24th, exactly half a year before 'Christmas Eve'.

Itchen Abbas church of St John the Baptist, is a fine Victorian building that hides a much earlier church. Alas the old church placed a great burden on the parish as its ancient walls and tower fell into decay and became unsafe. The church has some architectural remains that suggest it was built in the Norman period but may itself have replaced an earlier Saxon church.

Pilgrim Way Stamp Inside