St John the Baptist Church, Coventry

St John the Baptist Church stands in Spon Street, a medieval quarter of central Coventry. The church began in 1344 when Queen Isabella of France gave the guild of St John a plot called Babbelak. By 1350 the eastern part was ready for consecration, and later enlargements raised it to collegiate status. The building served as a guild chapel until the religious guilds were dissolved in 1548. In 1648 it was used as a prison for Scots soldiers after the battle of Preston. The church contains a relic of Saint Valentine of Rome, displayed on his feast day. Its furnishings date mainly from the late 19th or early 20th century, shaped by the Oxford Movement. The south chapel features a reredos by Sir Ninian Comper with a central crucifixion group. The building now belongs to the Church of England Diocese of Coventry and follows the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Visitors find a Grade I listed church with a carved rood screen in late medieval style. The nave and chancel show the earlier guild chapel walls and pier bases discovered in 1875. The altar area holds the Valentine relic in a reliquary when displayed. The surroundings include Spon Street’s historic lanes and nearby medieval buildings.