Beckford - St John the Baptist

Beckford is known to have been settled by the Romans. The Anglo-Saxons filled the vacuum caused by the Roman withdrawal from Britain and the Saxon Chronicles of Worcestershire record it as “Beccanforda”. It is documented that a monastery and church, almost certainly of timber, were here in the 8th century.

The central tower, its base having round-headed Norman windows, suggests a Norman cruciform church. The nave is Norman and there may have been an apsidal chancel where the tower is now.
The chancel is Early English style from around 1310.
A demonic head and a centaur stretching out its hand to grasp a spear. A strange rough carving.