A Closer Look At St. John Baptist

Of the former Saxon church it replaced little remains although medieval builders most likely recycled much of the chiseled stone from its predecessor.  One evidence of the former church is a sculptured stone slab, part of the south wall of the south-west tower turret, whose three figures possibly depict the Goddess Epona with attendants, that possibly date back to the Roman occupation.  In the west church yard is a massive Roman stone coffin weighing almost a ton. ⁽¹⁾     

 

The church was begun in the  late twelfth century and went through various phases during the following 300 years finally being completed in the 1400s.  By 1250 it had taken on the shape of a cross, known as a cruciform, depicting the way Jesus died. ⁽⁶⁾  In 1432 the Guild Chapel, originally a separate building, was joined to the main church to form the Lady Chapel.

 

The church has a monument to Edmund Harman (1569) which includes one of the earliest European representations of Amazonian Indians. ⁽²⁾   Also there is a monument to Sir Lawrence, Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Elizabeth I, and Lady Tanfield, dating 1628. Sir Lawrence so enraged the people of Burford with his high-handedness over his rights as Lord of the Manor that he was burned in effigy on May Day in the High Street for over 200 years. ⁽²⁾   

 

If one examines the baptismal font closely one finds the signature of Antony Sedley, one of the Levelers besieged in the church in 1649.  The Levelers were members of Cromwell's forces who mutinied in 1649 and were held prisoner in the church. ^{(1, 3)}     

 

During the peak of England's Wool Trade this church flourished and was enlarged being well endowed by the towns merchants.  By this time the strain of chancel arches and nave to support its 700 ton spire became obvious and to avoid disaster the arches leading to the transepts were filled in. ⁽²⁾   

References and Places for further Research:

1. A Guide to Burford Church, John and Alice Spicer 1437

2. Burford, http://www.digital-brilliance.com/hyperg/towns/burford.htm

3. The Town of Burford, http://www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/placesdetail.asp?place=burford

4. Churches In Oxfordshire, http://www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/church.asp

5. English Parish Churches, http://www.britainexpress.com/History/english-parish-churches.htm

6. Look at Burford Parish Church, 1996

7. Faces and Figures In Burford Church, 1995