Church of St John the Baptist, Frome

The present parish church of St John the Baptist, with its tower and spire, was built between the late 12th and early 15th centuries, replacing an earlier building described by William of Malmesbury in the 1120s as having survived the centuries. The first church of St John the Baptist (in honorem sancti Johannis Baptista) had been established when Aldhelm obtained a grant from Pope Sergius I to establish a foundation of mission priests to spread the faith in Selwood Forest. The earliest, probably timber, church is likely to have shared the same rocky platform as the present church, located between two streams running down the hill on either side, in line with Blindhouse Lane and Gentle…

surrounded by a pavement showing the seven virtues and seven deadly sins.]] The church contains a chancel, Lady chapel and baptistery and has a 7 or 8 bay nave. A font which had been in use in the present Ken Chapel in the early nineteenth century was given to Christ Church, Frome, after its construction. There are brass gates to the Chancel and a forged metal screen to the Lady Chapel, complete with gas lamp feature, both locally manufactured by John Webb Singer. There is a fine brass lectern and brass candlesticks in the church, which may also be from Singer's works. Outside the east end of the church is the tomb of Thomas Ken (July 1637 – 19 March 1711) who was an English cleric who was…