Myndtown Church

St John the Baptist Church dates from the 12th Century or earlier. It is considered to be nationally unique as a country church as it was not adapted by Victorian restoration, but retained its thoroughly rural, simple aesthetic.

The Grade II* Listed church was on Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register and after a successful Heritage Lottery Fund application, Arrol Architects undertook it’s extensive repair and renewal which included:

Renewal of all roof coverings; repairs to porch roof and structure; repairs to bellcote roof flashings and weatherboarding; repairs to exposed gable rafters and verges; stabilisation of load bearing masonry roof timbers including renewal and repair of timber trusses as necessary; repair of abutment between Chancel and Nave roofs; repairs to Chancel Arch; installation of new cast iron rainwater goods and rain water disposal system; rebuilding of delaminated areas of wall masonry; repair of external glazing; easing and freeing hopper and decoration of ferramenta bars; repair external lime rendering and external Keim redecoration; upgrades to electrics, lighting and heating for church users; installation of a new kitchenette for the church users; and installation of site wide brown tourist highway direction signs.

During the renovation major discoveries were made relating to the historic provenance of the building, with the church bells being dated back to the 11th and 12th Centuries, and parts of the roof structure found to originate from the late 12th Century.