St John the Baptist Church, Cockayne Hatley
Cockayne Hatley Church, Cockayne Hatley, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2EA
St John the Baptist is a church dating in part to the 13th century set in the countryside of East Bedfordshire. The church features in Simon Jenkins’ England's Thousand Best Churches: ‘no chancel in England quite compares with that at Cockayne Hatley’. The church has a remarkable collection of Belgian woodwork, with sixteen carved oak medallions from the Abbey of Oignies in Flanders. These date from 1687 and depict saints and martyrs from the Roman Catholic faith. Cockayne Hatley must be one of the few Anglican churches with a carving of a Pope. There are fine windows by Thomas Willement and also a well-preserved 13th century stained glass window in the north aisle showing four saints. In the nave are three slabs with monumental brasses, all to members of the Cockayne family. The churchyard contains a monument to W.E. Henley, the author of the poem 'Invictus' and the model for Long John Silver in Treasure Island. His daughter, buried here, was apparently the inspiration for the character of Wendy in Barrie's story of Peter Pan.
Timings
- Saturday 12 September:
- 0900-1700
Location & directions
Cockayne Hatley Church, Cockayne Hatley, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2EA
- Contact on day:
- Patricia Foulkes
- Telephone number:
- +441767631443
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Access is possible for wheelchair users or prams by means of a ramp. Inside the church, there are some steps to the aisles and chancel. It is an old building and the floor surface may not be entirely level.
Additional information
- Estimated duration:
- 1 hour(s)
