Church of St John the Baptist, Keynsham

The Church of St John the Baptist, is an Anglican parish church in Keynsham, Somerset, England. It was built around 1270 and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building. The church was originally closely associated with Keynsham Abbey until its dissolution in 1539. In 1632 the spire collapsed and a new bell tower was built at the western end of the church. Restoration and renovation work, under several vicars, has been ongoing since then as the parish and congregation rose and fell. The church has been involved in local and international charity work and in the 1970s a team ministry approach was adopted. The stone church includes historic fixtures such as the pulpit, font and brass chandeliers. The organ has grown and been moved since its installation in 1847. There is a story that Handel acquired a previous organ in exchange for two bells, however this is unsubstantiated. The bells in the tower date from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.