St John the Baptist

The tall, elegant octagonal tower which rises over the church is the most striking landmark of the English Maelor but why does this glorious building come to grace our small village?

Before 1879 Bettisfield was within the Parish of Hanmer. In 1851, Sunday evening lectures by the Vicar John Allen, Master of Hanmer School, were held in the parlour of the village shop. They proved so successful that he decided to build a small wooden chapel seating about 80. Lord John, 7th Baron Hanmer of Bettisfield Park provided the timber and the chapel was built on glebe land. Lord John had wanted to build a church in Bettisfield since 1856 and had engaged the eminent Victorian architect George Edmund Street to design it. In 1872 he finally decided to go ahead, using only the finest materials.

Building commenced on 15th June 1872 and was completed and opened on 11th October 1874. This small, but perfectly proportioned, building is of local Grinshill sandstone, its churchyard, entered through a lych gate, is surrounded on 3 sides by a ha-ha. Approaching the entrance porch one has a commanding view across the surrounding countryside.

The large marble tomb between the tower and porch is that of Lord John and his wife Georgina. On entering there are many signature signs of Street’s design; seven steps lead to the altar platform, there is an octagonal font with a top of decorative Ironwork on the left of the door. Along with a stone pulpit, seven steps lead to the altar platform, and a decorated stone balustrade separates the nave from the chancel. The carving of the choir stalls and organ screen reflect the shape of the east window.

The Hanmer family chapel now serves as a Lady Chapel providing a space for quiet reflection and here there are two Glastonbury chairs with a Table made from repurposed pews by craftsman Nigel Ogden. The east and west windows are by Clayton & Bell, the three bells by John Taylor of Loughborough and the tiles to either side of the altar are Caen Stone raredos by Minton.