Tunstall,
St John the Baptist
There is evidence that there has been a church on this site since Anglo-Saxon times, although the only reminder of this today is the altar stone, thought to date from around 700AD, which was found in the churchyard in the 1950s. The church was mentioned in the Domesday book and there is the remnant of an arch from the 13th century. What you see today is mostly 15th century although the woodwork dates from the 1907 restoration. Evidence of mediaeval recycling can be found in a Roman votive stone, from the nearby camp at Burrow, which is built into the side of one of the aisle windows.
The Bronte sisters worshipped here while they were pupils at the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge. Charlotte described the walk across the fields to 'Brocklebridge Church' in her novel Jane Eyre, and you can still see the entrance to the little room above the porch where the girls ate their lunch of bread and cold meats between services.
St John's church was originally dedicated to St Michael and both patron saints are commemorated by two bronze busts by the celebrated sculptress Josephine de Vasconcellos.
The church contains some fine stained glass; that above the altar is Flemish, from the 15th century, while the Bridges memorial is a much admired modern window designed by Jane Gray.
Postcode: LA6 2RQ
Opening
Times
Daily, 10am - 7pm in summer
10am - 4pm in winter
Telephone: 01524 274 259