This guide has been produced by St John the Baptist Church Wales with support from Rotherham Churches Tourism Initiative (RCTI).
Text: Revd Gary Schofield & Os Wright Design: Os Wright & RCTI

A Guide to St John the Baptist
A Family Church for all ages, Wales and Kiveton Park

Click the Pictures to Enlarge

Welcome to this holy and ancient place where worship has been offered to God for nearly 1000 years. The origin of the name Wales may either have come from 'Weales' meaning foreigners, the name given by the Anglo Saxons to Britons, or alternatively from the word 'Waelas' meaning field of battle.
The parish of Wales is a long and slender 1320 acres. The Church was once one of several Chapels under the Mother Church at Laughton. It became a separate parish in 1868.

THE FONT
On the right-hand side at the rear of church you will see a large bowl shaped stone font where baptisms (christenings) take place. Our font is over 1000 years old. It is symbolically placed near the entrance and in years gone by babies were baptised by full immersion, but we are much kinder nowadays!

When box pews were introduced in 1727 the Norman tub font was placed outside where animals would drink from it. The base of the font was left under the floorboards of the church and was only uncovered during Victorian times. At the font we become members of God's Church. We turn to Christ and begin a new life with God. Look at the wonderful carved ceiling bosses, mainly coats of arms of medieval families. In particular, look for two faces above the font, carved into the wooden bosses on the roof beams.

THE NORMAN CHURCH/LADY CHAPEL.
This space is called the Lady Chapel, in memory of Jesus' mother. At nearly 1000 years old it is easily the oldest part of the church. The original Norman church consisted of nave and chancel with walls that were beautifully decorated with pictures of Jesus' life and teachings.

There is no mention of the church in the Domesday Book, but it was probably
constructed during the reign of King Henry I (d.1135). Stand in front of the round Norman arch and you will notice it has primitive capitals and zigzag carvings. Can you spot the face? As you stand in God's house please remember that it is a house of prayer. It is possible that monks working the land from the nearby Cistercian Abbey at Roche would have prayed here, proclaiming the marvellous things that God has done for His people.

MEMORIALS.
To the left of the Norman arch is our memorial book and case. Here loved ones names, years of birth and dates of death are recorded. The page is turned daily as we remember those now resting in God's care.
Most of the memorials are beyond the Norman arch. To the left there is a door to the 18th century vestry - notice the medieval grave cover. Here you will find a marble tablet to the memory of Sir Thomas Hewitt, surveyor of works to King George I. The Hewitt family lived nearby in the old hall at Shireoaks.

A centenary time capsule is enshrined beneath the floor and will be unearthed by future generations.
Memory is a precious thing for it connects us with people who are no longer here with us. Jesus also hoped to be remembered and we do this when we share bread and wine together. The lit miners lamp signifies that the reserved sacrament is held here.

THE VOTIVE CANDLES AND PRAYER BOARD.
Many people have prayed on this holy site. We are inheritors of a rich history of faith. We too join in the work of God by adding our own prayers to those of the faithful followers who have gone before.Please feel free to light a candle on the votive stand to the right of the Norman arch. The burning flame is a symbol of your prayer continually offered to God whilst the candle burns.

Alternatively, you may wish to leave a written prayer on the prayer request board behind the font. Prayers left are collected and placed on the altar. You may like to pray for the needs of the world or for someone whom you know is in need.

THE NEW NAVE.
The main body of the church, where the congregation sit, is called the nave. If you move to the centre aisle you can see octagonal pillars supporting arched bays. The nave and south aisle were built in 1897 because the original Norman church was too small, due to the development of coal mining and the subsequent increase in population.

The new nave has a wonderful wooden roof and the wall at the west end of the nave has only recently been stripped of plaster. However, the real church of God is made of people rather than stones and mortar. Please look at some photographs of church life on the south wall.

THE PULPIT.
The wooden pulpit, to the left, is dated 1727 and would originally have been canopied. It first stood to the left of the Norman arch in the Lady Chapel, and can be seen in a line drawing in that area. The pulpit is where the preacher proclaims the good news of God's son. Jesus was a carpenter, teacher and healer. Our Saviour came to earth to tell the world of his Father's love and died on a cross in order that we might live.

THE EAGLE LECTURN.
Go to the front of the church and sit in a wooden pew. To the right is the brass eagle
lectern where the bible is kept. The king of birds carries the king of all books down from the heavens.The lectern was donated in December 1893.

THE CHANCEL
The Chancel was added in 1933, when sufficient funds had been raised. The chancel is where most of our music is made. The choir sit in the wooden stalls on the left and right. The organ, situated high above you on the right, was built in 1911 at a cost of £400, and was rebuilt in 1954 for £1268. It is a wonderful instrument and we are proud of the choral tradition of this Church.

We also have a church band, which consists of numerous instruments. We are proud ancestors of a wonderful musical heritage and continue to celebrate God's love for the world as we worship Him in joyful songs of praise and thanksgiving.

THE ALTAR .
The altar is the most sacred part of the church. The altar is a holy table and is surrounded by beautifully carved angels holding candles, with the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Sheffield in the centre. The altar is in a place where everyone can see it, at the top of the Chancel. We gather around the altar and share a meal of bread and wine to remember Jesus, just as he commanded.

THE WINDOWS.
The stained glass windows add beauty and colour to our church. In times gone by
stained glass windows and wall paintings acted as a biblical storybook, helping to teach people who were unable to read all about the Christian faith and the life of Christ. The east window, behind the altar, depicts the Baptism of Jesus by his cousin John the Baptist. John the Baptist, who was beheaded by order of King Herod, is wearing red. Jesus is wearing purple, the colour of his clothes near crucifixion. Look very closely and you will see many symbols representing what happened at Jesus' death. This is our newest window, donated in 1960.

The north windows were inserted when the Norman church was made higher in the 15th century. They contain fragments of late gothic stained glass which may have pictured scenes from the scriptures before they were destroyed. It was common practice for the glaziers to include figures representing the window's donor, usually in the form of kneeling figures. Perhaps the fragments remaining are such representations. It is known from earlier descriptions of the church that there was once a stained glass window with the following inscription, 'Pray for the soul of John Hewett and Isabella his wife who caused this window to be made'.

In the chancel of the Lady Chapel there is a window depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, kindly given in memory of those from Wales and Kiveton who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-18.

PORCH AND CHURCHYARD.
Make sure you see our ancient porch, on the south side. Look closely at the fine Norman arch with its alternating human and bird head carvings, and chequerboard centre. The arch was reset here when the church was enlarged.
Please look around our beautifully kept churchyard.

The churchyard and Wales Cemetery, at the top of Church Street, are especially important places for many people. They are tranquil places where loved ones rest in peace and those left behind come to tend graves in loving remembrance.

THE TOWER.
The 15th century tower has been a treasured feature of the Wales and Kiveton landscape for the past 600 years. Look out for the masons marks on the tower walls. The tower houses 3 bells. The oldest is dated around 1425 and may have been taken from Roche Abbey after the dissolution.

An inscription reads 'May this bell be blessed by the Holy Trinity'. The other 2 bells are more recent with one dating from 1618 and the other 1630 with the inscription, 'Jesus be our speed'. The 3 ancient bells continue to ring out calling the people of God to prayer.

The church is physically at the heart of this parish and it has the people of this parish at its heart. Nearly 8000 people live within the parish boundaries. Each day we pray for all who live in the area by road name and for the local shops, businesses, community groups and organisations.