St John's Church, Tincleton

St John's was built to replace an earlier church which was considered "unsightly and inconvenient".[3] The decision to replace the old church was made by the end of 1847,[4] with drawings for a "chaste and handsome" new church having been made by Benjamin Ferrey.[2] A plot of land for the new church was given by Charles Sturt of Crichel House and Charles Porcher of Clyffe House paid for its construction.[5]

Construction of the new church began in 1849 and the parish's services were temporarily moved to the nearby schoolroom.[3] St John's and its burial ground was consecrated by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Rev. Edward Denison, on 1 November 1850.[5]

St John's is built of squared and coursed rubble, with Hamstone dressings and tiled roofs. It is made up of a nave, chancel, vestry and north porch. The church has a west bell-cot containing two bells, with a clock below.[6]

Some of the old church's fittings and memorials were transferred to the new church. The font is made from Purbeck stone and has been dated to the 12th-century, although it has since been reshaped. The stem and base of the font is of 19th or 20th-century date. On the north wall of the chancel is a monument to Anne Seymour, dated 1844, along with two marble tablets made by Lester of Dorchester; one to Rev. Thomas Seymour, dated 1849, and the other to Jane Seymour, dated 1850. On the north wall of the nave is a marble monument to Rachel Baynard, dated 1667, and another to George Baynard, dated 1693. The south wall has a monument to Maria White, dated 1718. The nave contains two floor slabs to Thomas Baynard, dated 1683, and Radolphus Baynard, dated 1695.[6]

The church's organ was built in 1885 by Maley, Young & Oldknow of London. It was first used in the church on 6 December 1885 and was later restored by Geo. Osmond & Co of Taunton in 1969.[7][8] In 1889, Mrs. Porcher had a reredos erected in the church in memory of Charles Porcher. The chancel has a memorial window to Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, who died in 1879. It was placed by E. L. Kindersley of Clyffe House.[9]