| Description | The present Church of St. John the Evangelist is a Listed Grade II Victorian Church, however, it may have originally been consecrated as a medieval chapel.
The church was constructed in 1848 by Mallinson and Healey, with a south tower being added in 1928, although some medieval architectural features survive. The open arcade to the south aisle with pointed arches, carried on octagonal columns with moulded capitals dates from the earlier 14th century (Department of the Environment 1985, 9). Located in the churchyard is a square sandstone pillar (PRN 2389), which is believed to be the remains of a medieval cross (Lewis 1964).
In the early 13th century an Alan the Priest [presumably of Baildon] was witness to two charters of Esholt Priory and in 1540 a chantry was named at Baildon in the 'Valor Ecclesisticus'. The chapel recorded during this time may also have been dedicated to St. Giles (West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, U.D.). A list of the original sources for the above refrences are shown below.
The above information suggests that an ecclesiastical foundation was extant on this site during the medieval period, which appears have been a chantry chapel. The fate of the chapel after the 1547 Chantries Act is unclear. |