St John's Church, Shobdon

Lovely church. Quirky inside which makes it a bit more special!
Sep 26th, 2022

Open for public , nice , quiet place , beautiful garden in privat property open for public
Jul 10th, 2022

The Church of St John in Shobdon is unique in Britain, no other churches are so completely Rococo in style. The present church is the third church on the site. The first was most likely a timber structure, but little is known about it. The second was a stunning Romanesque construction, built in the 12th century and inspired by the pilgrimage of Oliver de Merlemond, steward of the Shobdon estate, to Santiago de Compostela. The highly ornate carved arches of this church are by the Herefordshire School of Stone Carvers but were removed in 1751 and re-erected on the hill near the church. The current church reused the 13th century tower, but the rest of the structure was completely rebuilt between 1749 and 1752. The unassuming exterior gives little indication of the blue and white Rococo interior. The decoration is elaborate and ornate, with many floral motifs and undulating arches. The works were carried out by the 2nd Viscount Bateman and an unknown architect. The church has been referred to as Strawberry Hill Gothic, referring to the Bateman familys ties to Horace Walpole. There are two fonts in the church, one from the 18th century rebuild and a 12th century Romanesque font from the older church. The older font was thrown out during the rebuilding as it was not in keeping with the new style. It was recovered from the gardens and reinstated in the early 20th century. The ornate carvings of the Herefordshire lions around the thick stem are by the Herefordshire School of Stone Carvers.
Feb 3rd, 2022

An internally stunning church, possibly unique in the UK at least. Part of Shobdon Manor and as such is set on the edge of the beautiful grounds. Parking outside the church wall is plentiful and the church is not normally locked.
Dec 2nd, 2021

Its worth a detour if you are in the area to see this Church, its stunning and the grounds are a nice walk, photos just don't do it justice you have to see it
Jun 15th, 2021