The Corpus of ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE in Britain & Ireland
St John the Evangelist and St Martin (now)
Parish church, formerly collegiate church
A Norman Minster was built but there was a big fire in 1188 which affected the eastern part of the Romanesque church and the decision was taken to completely rebuild the Minster in the new 'pointed' style. The east end and eastern transepts were completed by c 1206, the main transepts before c 1220. Later, the canons decided to extend the tower over the eastern crossing with a superstructure above roof level. This fell after 1214 causing damage to the retrochoir and eastern transepts which had to be rebuilt. The replacement roof timbers date to 1234-59, and the high altar was re-dedicated in 1261.
Still in use in the S nave aisle is the magnificent Frosterley marble font, dating from the second half of the twelfth century, with a celebrated wooden canopy of 1726.