Church of St.John the Baptist, Latton

The church at Latton is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is a Grade I listed building. It is thought that the church was built by Cirencester Abbey in the middle of the 12th century; the manor of Latton had been given to the Abbey by Henry I in 1133.
There was a vicarage for the church by the middle of the 13th century and this was worth £237 by 1819.

There was probably a chapel on the site before the church was built. The church remained under the Abbey's control until the Dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. The church was first recorded as being dedicated to St John by 1763.

The ecclesiastical parish of Latton was united with nearby Eysey in 1819. On Census Sunday in 1851 there were two services at the church; 78 people attended the morning service and 113 the afternoon one.

The church of St. John the Baptist is constructed out of local limestone with the roof of Cotswold stone tiles. The internal walls are fairly plain and there are only a few memorials. One is in the tower in memory of members of the Ware family who died at the start of the 19th century.

The south wall of the church was reconstructed in the middle of the 19th century and a new large window was installed. Eight windows commemorate the Beadon family, one of whom, the Reverend Hyde Wyndham Beadon, served as vicar at Latton for 53 years, from 1838 to 1891.Two small windows commemorate the Habgood family. There are also monuments to the Habgood family in the churchyard which are Grade II listed. There are several other monuments which are also Grade II listed, although their history and provenance in unknown.

The chancel was rebuilt twice in the 19th century, after repairs in the 13th century. During the changes in the 19th century, it was described as looking 'Gothic'. A south porch was built in the 17th century and the oak pews also date from the 17th century while the font is from the 19th century. The tower, which has 15th century battlements and some gargoyles, is topped by a sundial. Inside the church, standing below the timbers, are some interesting stone figures. These include a demon, an ape, a fox dressed in a cassock, a jester and two bishops. In 1992 the nave was restored and given a medieval appearance. The churchyard was extended in April 1969.

The advowson passed through the manor of Latton, so until the Dissolution it was the Abbey of Cirencester's, and after that the Hungerford family and then the St. Germans. There were a few exceptions; in 1361 the Crown had to present the rector as the abbacy was vacant. Although the St. Germans sold the manor in 1918, they retained the advowson.

There are five bells in the belfry. In 1553 there were two bells and there were five by 1709. The parish registers are from 1576 (christenings) and 1578 (marriages and burials), other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.