Some history about this church.
St John the Baptist's Church follows the standard layout of Anglo-Saxon churches was a tall nave without aisles linked to a smaller, square-ended chancel by a chancel arch. The nave and chancel arch, along with parts of the north and south chancel walls, survive from the 11th century.On the north side of the nave, fragmentary remains of a 12th-century porticus (a low side chapel, similar to a Transept) can be seen: on the inside, there is a blocked round-headed opening, while on the outside a roofline is visible. A similar porticus of the 13th century existed on the south side; its remnants can still be seen.
The entrance porch on the north wall was erected in the 15th century, but the heavy oak door dates from the Norman era. The entrance was originally on the south side; suggested reasons for its move include avoiding the prevailing wind. The squat wooden belfry at the west end of the nave is also 15th-century, as are two of the three bells. The chancel was rebuilt in the 19th century, and a vestry was added on the northwest side. Minor restoration work was carried out in the 20th century. A blocked window, discovered in the north wall of the chancel, was found be an original Anglo-Saxon window. The former side-chapel on the north side was discovered during excavation work in 1918. To commemorate the Millennium, new stained glass was inserted in the west window of the nave; the design received considerable praise.
The most famous feature of St John the Baptist's Church is the array of well-preserved and ancient wall paintings in the nave and on the chancel arch. The 12th-century murals over the chancel arch are among the oldest in England, showing the terrors of judgement day. The murals are well preserved because they had been plastered over, only coming back to light in 1893. It is well worth stopping to pop into the church (normally open) and standing in front of paintings possibly drawn by people who remembered the Norman conquest.
Now to find the cache.
The easiest way to find the information you need is to start near the church lychgate, head towards the church door and then navigate your way around the church yard clockwise gathering the clues along the way. I have chosen stones that should be quite obvious and you shouldn't need to go trampling all over the graves.
Find the grave of Stephen Small. He was clerk of the parish for ab years and was cd years old when he died. His wife was ef years old when she died.
Find the grave of Charles Tulley. He died aged ghj years and kl months.
Find the bench dedicated to Helen and Eric. They have m letters in their surname.
Step down into the rear graveyard, but not too far! You are looking for a stone plaque in memory of Simon Titcomb. He had n letters in his abbreviated nickname. He was born in 19pq.
Whilst in the are look for the grave of Doris Clarke, another centenarian (they must put something in the water here!) She had a nickname with r letters in it.
Now continue your way around the church and you are looking for the grave of Esther Attree. Her sister Harriet died in 19st.
The cache can be found at N50 5A.BCD W000 0E.FGH
Where A = a-l, B = m-g, C = f+k, D = j*p, E = d+q, F = m/b, G = s+h, H = e-n-t.
A check sum of all 15 digits should give 47.
The cache is located a short walk from the church. You will need to bring your own pen but having done all that maths I guess you would have on anyway!
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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