St John the Baptist Church, Cockayne Hatley
Cockayne Hatley Church, Cockayne Hatley, Church Farm Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 EA
St John the Baptist is a church dating in part to the 13th century set in the countryside of East Bedfordshire. The church features in Simon Jenkins’ England's Thousand Best Churches: ‘no chancel in England quite compares with that at Cockayne Hatley’. The church has a remarkable collection of Flemish woodwork, with sixteen carved oak medallions from the Abbey of Oignies in Flanders. These date from 1687 and depict saints and martyrs from the Roman Catholic faith. Cockayne Hatley must be one of the few Anglican churches with a carving of a Pope. There are fine windows by Thomas Willement and also a 14th century stained glass window in the north aisle showing four saints from the northeast of England. In the nave are three slabs with brasses, all to members of the Cockayne family. The churchyard contains a monument to W.E. Henley, the author of the poem 'Invictus', and whose daughter, buried here, was apparently the inspiration for the character of Wendy in Barrie's story of Peter Pan.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 07 September:
- 1000-1600
- Saturday 14 September:
- 900-1600
Location & directions
Cockayne Hatley Church, Cockayne Hatley, Church Farm Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 EA
- Contact on day:
- Patricia Foulkes
- Telephone number:
- +441767631443
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Access is possible for wheelchair users or prams by means of a ramp. Inside the church, there are some steps to the aisles and chancel. It is an old building and the floor surface may not be entirely level.
Additional information
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s)
