Historic churches · South East England
Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst
In or near Penshurst.
Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst — church in Penshurst, Kent, England, UK.

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Penshurst · 2.7 km
- Free entry
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Church of St John the Baptist in Penshurst, the nearest railway station is Penshurst, located 2.7 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TN11 8BN. Entry to the church is free.
About
Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1250. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Wikidata describes it as: "church in Penshurst, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.1736°, 0.1834°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst in Kent is a Grade I listed Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Rochester in England. Those buried or commemorated here include Knights, Earls, Viscounts, a Viceroy of India, a Governor-General of Australia, a Private Secretary to two Kings, two Field Marshals and two winners of the Victoria Cross. Through its courtiers, soldiers, statesmen, politicians or priests whose lives appear on memorials or through its changing architecture, brasses, carvings, effigies and windows, the church helps tell a country's story through the eyes of single village.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
The Church of St John the Baptist in Penshurst is a historic church that welcomes visitors. It offers a serene environment for reflection and appreciation of its architecture and heritage.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: High Weald
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst in Kent is a Grade I listed Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Rochester in England. Those buried or commemorated here include Knights, Earls, Viscounts, a Viceroy of India, a Governor-General of Australia, a Private Secretary to two Kings, two Field Marshals and two winners of the Victoria Cross. Through its courtiers, soldiers, statesmen, politicians or priests whose lives appear on memorials or through its changing architecture, brasses, carvings, effigies and windows, the church helps tell a country's story through the eyes of single village.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
A church has stood on the present site in Penshurst since 1115, at the centre of a cluster of buildings, including the manor house, guild house and rectory.
Description
]] St John the Baptist has a nave with North and South aisles and a South porch. The tower stands in the West. Side chapels are in the North-East, the South and the South-East. The latter is the "Sidney Chapel" (see below) which has its own porch and is directly connected with the church's chancel. The church is located set back from the street and in close proximity to Penshurst Place. The church's exterior is built from coursed sandstone ashlar. Sections of the present building can be traced to almost each century between the 12th and 19th. The roof was raised in the 14th century, the base of the tower added in the 15th, the present southern aisle in the 17th, the top of the tower in the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.1736, 0.1834
- County
- Kent
- District
- Sevenoaks
- Parish
- Penshurst
- Postcode
- TN11 8BN
- Parliamentary constituency
- Tonbridge
- Established
- 1250
- Nearest railway station
- Penshurst — 2.7 km
- Official site
- www.penshurstchurch.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q17529875 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St John the Baptist, Penshurst (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Penshurst Church - geograph.org.uk - 1804919.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst?
- Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode TN11 8BN), in the parish of Penshurst.
- What is Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst?
- Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst — church in Penshurst, Kent, England, UK.
- How do I get to Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst?
- The nearest railway station is Penshurst, about 2.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode TN11 8BN.
- When was Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst built?
- Built or established in 1250.
- Is Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst a listed building?
- Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst a protected site?
- Yes — Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst is part of the High Weald National Landscape (AONB) and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst free to visit?
- Yes, Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst is free to enter.
- How do I get to Church of St John the Baptist, Penshurst?
- The nearest railway station is Penshurst, about 2.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode TN11 8BN.