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Spetisbury

Church of St John the Baptist

Highlight • Religious Site

Church of St John the Baptist

Recommended by 2 hikers

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    November 6, 2025

    Church dedicated to " creepy John ", the locust and honey eating baptizer who foretold the coming of the Messiah. Unfortunately this church was not open. I came back twice after first visit as the website for it says opens at 10am.
      Medieval Origins
      The Tower: The most prominent ancient part is the West Tower, which dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. It's a fairly squat, three-stage tower with an embattled parapet. It houses a peal of six bells.


      The North Arcade: The interior contains a three-bay arcade that is even older, dating from the late 12th or early 13th century (Late Norman/Early English).

      The Font: The font is made of Purbeck marble and is likely the same age as the tower (late medieval).
      While the core is medieval, most of the building's exterior and fabric date from the major restoration in 1858 by T. H. Wyatt (the same architect who rebuilt All Saints, Langton Long Blandford!). This work was extensive, replacing the chancel and most of the nave and aisle walls.
      Pulpit: A magnificent early 17th-century (Jacobean) polygonal pulpit. It features highly enriched decoration, including panelled sides with Ionic capitals, beasts, cherub-heads, and strapwork.
        The Trihedron Memorial (Churchyard)
        One of the most unusual features is found in the churchyard near the main entrance: a three-sided ashlar pyramid known as a trihedron. This serves as the gravestone for the eccentric Reverend Thomas Rackett, who was rector of Spetisbury for an astonishing 60 years (1780 to 1840).


        The church beautifully blends its medieval tower and arcades with the grand scale of the Victorian restoration, making it a wonderful example of Dorset's ecclesiastical heritage.

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          Elevation 80 m

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          Location: Spetisbury, North Dorset, Dorset, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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