St John the Baptist Cookham Dean
photograph by courtesy of Graham Harris

Cookham Dean Church was built in 1844, the corner stone being laid by the vicar of Cookham on 15th July of that year.  The cost of building the church was £1,300.  The building was of flint and brick with a roof tiled with slate.  Very traditional materials for the area.  The vestry was not added until 1867 at the east end of the south aisle.  In 1891 a new vestry was incorporated into the north east porch, this was extended to its present size in 1978.

One of the most beautiful and exceptional features of the church are the stained glass windows.  Most are designed by acknowledged Victorian masters of stained glass window design including Clayton & Bell, Charles Eamer Kempe and Lavers & Barraud.   The West Window depicts the first Adam in the Garden of Eden and the last Adam, Jesus Christ, crowned with glory.  It also shows the first Eve and the second Eve, Mary the mother of the Lord. Another window depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds at the Manger.  There are three sanctuary windows, one depicting 'Suffer little children', the second behind the altar shows Elijah with his raven and the third on the South Side shows Mary Magdalene, the mother of James and Joanna or Salome meet the angel at the tomb.  Above is a peacock, which symbolises the resurrection. The bell was dedicated in 1948 in memory of John Somerville Highfield who used to live in 'Sterlings'.  It sounds the note of the bell-buoy marking the Udda Rock off Fowey in Cornwall where John Highfield enjoyed sailing.  The same year the clock was installed.

The Victorian oak reredos is well worth a mention.  It was carved in 1876 and has four gessoed and gilded panel with painted angels which are copies of angels of Fra Angelico in Florence.  The reredos was expertly restored in 1997. There are two churches in Australia built from adaptations of the plans for Cookham Dean Church.

SERVICES DURING THE YEAR
		SUNDAY
		08.00am	Holy Communion
		09.30am	Family Communion
		11.00am	Mattins (First Sunday in month only)
		11.00am	Sunday School (Not first Sunday in month)
		06.30pm	Evensong
		WEEKDAYS
		10.00am	*Holy Communion (Every Wednesday & Red Letter Saints' Days)
		02.30pm	Fellowship (Third Thursday in month)

*Rite B used on the First Wednesday. The 1662 Prayer Book is used for Holy Communion on the Third Sunday at 8am and also for weekly Evensong and monthly Matins.

Coffee is served in the Vestry every Sunday after Family Communion and all are warmly welcome.

EVENTS CALENDAR

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