St John the Baptist Church, Northwood, Isle of Wight
St John the Baptist, Chawton Lane, Northwood, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8QT
St John the Baptist, Northwood, is a medieval parish church with 12th-century origins, long serving the rural community between Newport and Cowes. Built of stone rubble, the church retains a number of important early features, including a striking Norman south doorway with zig-zag decoration and arcades dating from around 1200. Although much restored in the 19th century, especially after the loss of its earlier wooden tower and dormer in 1864, the church still preserves much of its historic character. The Victorian restoration was completed in 1874 and included the present octagonal broached spire, while the church’s single bell was hung in 1875. Inside, notable features include a fine Jacobean pulpit and memorial tablets, while the churchyard contains 18th- and 19th-century headstones and tombs. Originally a chapel of ease to St Mary’s, Carisbrooke, St John the Baptist later became the parish church for Northwood in its own right. Today its Grade I listed status reflects both its architectural importance and its long-standing place in the life of the village.
Timings
- Friday 11 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Saturday 12 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Sunday 13 September:
- 11:00 Holy Communion (Refreshments are served from 10:30)
- Monday 14 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Tuesday 15 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Wednesday 16 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Thursday 17 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Friday 18 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Saturday 19 September:
- 11:00 to 15:00
- Sunday 20 September:
- 11:00 BCP (Refreshments are served from 10:30)
Location & directions
St John the Baptist, Chawton Lane, Northwood, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8QT
- Directions:
- Northwood Parish Church is situated to the east of the main Newport-Cowes road, approximately 400m south of the village, at the end of Chawton Lane.
- Contact on day:
- Peter Lambert
- Telephone number:
- +441983526385
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There is limited car parking adjacent at the end of Chawton Lane.
Additional information
This 12th-century church has a small churchyard, retaining notable Norman and Jacobean features. The church’s woodwork includes its fine mid-17th-century Jacobean wooden pulpit, one of the most distinctive furnishings inside the building. Its stonework is especially important: the church is built of stone rubble and has a Norman south doorway with shafts, zig-zag decoration and chip-carved motifs, while the nave arcades, with pointed arches dating from around 1200, show the transition from Norman to Early English Gothic design.
