Upper Boddington St john the Baptist John Clift

St John the Baptist

A simple, quiet and friendly village church dating from the 13 century, standing in a wildlife friendly churchyard.

Upper Bodington, Northamptonshire

Opening times

The church is normally open between 9am and 5pm during daylight hours.
There is a steep access path from the car park which may prove difficult for elderly or infirm.
An eco toilet is present in the churchyard, but no facilities are available within the church building.

Address

Church Road
Upper Bodington
Northamptonshire
NN11 6DL

This much loved village church is sited atop a hill, with views for miles around. References to a priest in Boddington were made in the doomsday book, and the base of a preaching cross thought to date from around this time can be found in the churchyard.

The church is believed to date from the 13th century, but has more recent additions. The porch over the south door is dated 1628, and below and to the left of the dated stone is a mass sundial, Now much weathered.

Inside the church, at the west end of the nave is an eight sided font of 14th century design. It sits on a more modern concrete base at the entrance to the bell tower. The oldest bell was cast in 1621, and there was a ring of 5 bells in 1821. In 2004 the bells were silenced, until the tower was repaired, the bells refurbished, and a sixth bell added in 2009. A small door (leading up to the ringing chamber) is situated in the north west corner of the tower, and adjacent to this is carved Graffiti thought to date to before the Napoleonic wars. A number of medieval tiles are on display. These date from between 1300 and 1400 and were moved when the church underwent restoration after the civil war. Largely paid for by Revd Dr Edward Maynard (rector from 1694 to 1740), there were extensive repairs to the roof and windows, and generally putting the church back into good order. He and his wife are buried under the alter.

Two tomb recesses, one on either side of the church date from the 13th or 14th century. An oak chest, iron bound, and hewn from a single piece of oak dates form the 16th century. It may have belonged to the Washington family and has served as 'safe' for the church for several centuries! The organ pipes date from the mid Victorian era, but the organ was replaced with a modern digital organ in 2014. A number of mouldings and grotesques are evident inside and outside the church.

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Famous connections

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • National heritage here

  • Social heritage stories

  • Wildlife haven

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Car park at church

  • Ramp or level access available on request

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Steps to enter the church or churchyard

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Sunday worship on first second and third Sundays of the month. Services for all normal highlights in the church calendar.

  • Church of England

  • Maintenance Grant, £3,000, 2018

  • Our Maintenance Grants funded urgent maintenance projects to help keep churches open.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Peter & St Paul

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St Mary the Virgin

Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire

The church has been at the heart of the village of Woodford Halse since the 12th century although the church was substantially rebuilt in the late 19th century.