St John The Baptist Church East Markham

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St John the Baptist Church, East Markham is one of Nottinghamshire's finest medieval parish churches and is widely regarded as the architectural landmark of the village. The church is a Grade I listed building, recognising it as a structure of exceptional historic and architectural importance.

Although a church has stood on the site since at least the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the present building is largely a magnificent example of 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic architecture, with some surviving 14th-century features.

One of its most striking features is the imposing 80-foot (24 m) west tower, crowned with eight pinnacles and decorated with gargoyles. The spacious nave, lofty clerestory windows and embattled parapets give the church an unusually grand appearance for a village church.

The poet and architectural enthusiast Sir John Betjeman famously described it as "The Cathedral of the Trent Valley", reflecting both its scale and elegance.

Inside, the church is bright and airy thanks to its large clerestory windows. Highlights include:

• A magnificent east window designed by Sir Ninian Comper and installed in 1896.
• A fine 15th-century brass memorial to Dame Millicent Meryng (d. 1419), regarded as one of the church's treasures.
• The tomb-chest of Sir John Markham, the distinguished medieval judge.
• A surviving section of the medieval rood screen, a pre-Reformation altar slab, and handsome 17th-century furnishings including the altar rails, pulpit and font cover.

The church underwent a major Victorian restoration between 1883 and 1887, directed by architect John Oldrid Scott, during which the aisles were rebuilt while preserving the medieval character of the building.

Standing prominently on a ridge overlooking the Trent Valley, St John the Baptist remains both an active parish church and one of Nottinghamshire's most impressive historic churches.

Its combination of medieval craftsmanship, fine stained glass, memorials and commanding architecture makes it a rewarding destination for visitors interested in history, architecture or English parish churches.

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