Churches

St. John the Baptist - Grafton Flyford

Church Profile:

Set on a small hill the church which is dedicated to St John the Baptist enjoys spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. There is a well kept churchyard and the church benefits from its own large car park.

A priest is recorded in1086 and the church itself seems to be first documented in 1268. The chancel arch is late 13th century and the tower 14th century, but the remainder was largely rebuilt in 1875 however a substantial amount of the old materials was reused. In recent years sympathetic restoration and repairs have been carried out and the restoration of significant wall hanging and general improvements has led to an increase in interest and in visitors to the church. There is a good small organ which is used regularly and a very fine set of bells from 1676 which unfortunately are not capable of being rung at present. The church enjoys the support of the community. A lively social committee helps to organise fund raising events and to support general church life. For further information please contact Jill Benton on 01905 381620.

St John the Baptist. Feast Day 24 June

John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. He was probably born at Ain-Karim southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel had told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea until about A.D. 27. When he was thirty, he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan against the evils of the times and called men to penance and baptism "for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand". He attracted large crowds, and when Christ came to him, John recognized Him as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, "It is I who need baptism from You". When Christ left to preach in Galilee, John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. Fearful of his great power with the people, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Perea and Galilee, had him arrested and imprisoned at Machaerus Fortress on the Dead Sea when John denounced his adultrous and incestuous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half brother Philip. John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother. John inspired many of his followers to follow Christ when he designated Him "the Lamb of God," among them Andrew and John, who came to know Christ through John's preaching. John is presented in the New Testament as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the precursor of the Messiah. His feast day is June 24th and the feast for his beheading is August 29th.