'Virtual Tour of St John the Baptist Church' - Clendon Daukes

One of the large Cotswold 'wool churches' built between 1160 and 1475. Items of interest include: a memorial tablet to Henry VIII’s barber-surgeon, Edmund Harman, showing one of the earliest representations of South American Indians; the ornate, canopied tomb of Sir Lawrence and Lady Tanfield; a tablet commemorating the Burford mason, Christopher Kempster, who was employed by Christopher Wren on the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral, and a pre-Christian carving dated at 100 AD, possibly depicting the Celtic goddess Epona.

In 1649 mutineers in Cromwell's army (Levellers) were imprisoned in the church - one of them carved his name on the font! - before being forced onto the roof to watch their ringleaders execution in the churchyard. Those executed are commemorated on a plaque close to the porch.

Brigadier Clendon Daukes

One thing is guaranteed when listening to Clendon…….you will never be bored (nor have to turn the volume up!). He is still very much involved with his regiment and takes a full an active role in the many aspects of Burford that maintain our vibrant community. 

Clendon is Chairman of The Burford Tolsey Museum and Archive, Founder of The Bridge Magazine and still involved with the magazine’s distribution to Burford and surrounding villages. His knowledge of St. John the Baptist Church, and its residents, is unsurpassed and his talk will combine historical fact and humour.