Follow the brown signs

A church built on ancient foundations

The church of St John the Baptist is situated in an ancient sacred landscape which is indicated by the remains of Anglo-Saxon carved stones re-used in the walls of this medieval church.  However, this is a much more ancient landscape of power, royalty, and warfare than the Anglo-Saxon stonework signals.

The church is sited within Stanwick Camp an Iron Age earthwork fortification which was probably a centre of power for Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes tribe. Therefore, though Stanwick may today appear a quiet village it was not always so. The earthworks would have remained an impressive site during the early historic period making this a significant place for the local population.  

The site seems to have been a location for Christian worship during the Anglo-Saxon period  as indicated by the remains of a 9^th century Anglo-Saxon cross shaft now in the church. The churchyard seems to be more ancient than the present church as it is circular suggesting that it is pre-Norman Conquest.

The present church dates from the 13^th century though it was renovated in 1868 and the fine Victorian tiles and arts and crafts details on the door hinges all date from this period.

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