Church of St John the Baptist

St John the Baptist stands in Church Lane, Pinner, a quiet corner of the London Borough of Harrow. The church dates largely from the 14th century, though its tower and porch were added in the 15th. It began as a chapel under St Mary’s, Harrow on the Hill, and only became a separate parish in 1766. The churchyard holds the grave of William Skenelsby, said to have reached 118 years. Henry James Pye, once Poet Laureate, is buried inside. The building mixes styles from many periods. Ninian Comper designed two of its stained glass windows, while J. L. Pearson restored others and rebuilt the roof in the 1870s. Temple Moore planned the vestry in 1911. Inside, a 15th-century octagonal font and 17th-century altar rails survive. An oak chest recorded in 1622 still stands, needing a new lock that year. Visitors find a calm interior with varied memorials. Sir Christopher Clitherow, a former Lord Mayor of London, is remembered here. Outside, a pyramid-shaped monument to John Claudius Loudon’s parents marks the churchyard. The stained glass and roof gables catch the light, while the ancient font and chest speak of centuries of use.