St John the Baptist

After this, its story is one of continual additions and improvements over the centuries, which makes the history of the building fascinating although quite difficult to read.

The church was rebuilt in the 13th century, but its most admired features are the result of changes made in the 15th century, when the nave was remodelled with enormous Perpendicular windows and a fine clerestory. At the same time, a splendid three storey porch was added. It has a wonderful vaulted ceiling. Other additions were the slender spire on the Norman tower, and the Sylvester chapel to the west of the porch.

The interior is full of interest. The tiny wooden chantry chapel that is opposite the door survived the Reformation thanks to the local squire, who used it as a private pew. The monuments include one to a local stonemason, Christopher Kempster, who worked on St Paul's Cathedral with Sir Christopher Wren. Another, of 1569, commemorates Edmund Harman, sometime barber surgeon to Henry VIII.

It also contains sculptures of Native Americans, a remarkably early depiction of the New World. The brightly coloured pulpit was assembled in 1878 from fragments of 15th century wooden tracery. In a small chapel north of the chancel is the magnificent early 17th century canopied tomb of Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and his wife. The sculpture of a skeleton below their effigies is an unusually late example of the rather grisly medieval fashion for a memento mori. At their feet kneels their grandson, Lucius Carey, Viscount Falkland, the Cavalier courtier and poet who was killed at the Battle of Newbury in 1643.

There is much good Victorian stained glass, notably the huge west window illustrating the stem of Jesse. GE Street restored the church in 1877 and removed most of the original plaster, much to the displeasure of William Morris, who subsequently went on to found the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

A modern plaque on the outside of the church commemorates three Roundhead soldiers who were executed in the churchyard in 1649. They were the ringleaders of a large band of mutinous troops (known as Levellers) whom Cromwell imprisoned in the church. One of them inscribed his name on the lead font, which can still be seen.