---
title: "St John the Baptist, Pendeen"
description: "Located in Pendeen, Cornwall. Built 1849–52; tower raised 1890. Diocese of Truro. Grade II. Early English cruciform, after Iona Abbey style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Cornwall","Pendeen","Grade II","Early English","Robert Aitken","Granite"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-john-baptist-pendeen"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:29:14.704Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T15:59:26.995Z"
location: "Pendeen, Cornwall"
country: "England"
county: "Cornwall"
town: "Pendeen"
address: "Pendeen, Cornwall, TR19 7SF"
postcode: "TR19 7SF"
built: "1849–52; tower raised 1890"
architect: "Reverend Robert Aitken, assisted by William Hocking; tower raised by Oliver Caldwell"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["John the Baptist"]
diocese: "Truro"
grade: "II"
style: "Early English cruciform, after Iona Abbey"
materials: "Local granite"
website: "http://www.friendsofpendeenchurch.org.uk/"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Pendeen"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1457305"
gridReference: "SW 382 342"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# St John the Baptist, Pendeen

St John the Baptist is a Grade II parish church on Church Road in Pendeen, Cornwall, in the Diocese of Truro, designed by its first vicar on the plan of Iona Abbey.

## Overview

Historic England lists the church and the boundary walls to the churchyard, cemetery and former rectory (list entry 1457305, designated 11 September 2018). The church of 1849–52 was designed by the Reverend Robert Aitken, assisted by William Hocking, and built by local miners and villagers in their spare hours. Wikipedia records that it was based on Iona Abbey, refurbished in 1878, and that Oliver Caldwell raised the tower in 1890 and installed a clock. The ecclesiastical parish of Pendeen was formed from St Just in 1845.

The listing describes a cruciform granite church with a chancel surmounted by stone crosses, a staged tower with paired belfry lancets, a five-lancet east window, and a granite porch. The interior has a high chancel arch, oak altar rails and altar, a sanctuary floor of encaustic tiles, and pine pews. Aitken was the first incumbent and is buried in a family vault at the church.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1457305](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1457305)
- [British Listed Buildings: Church of St John the Baptist, Pendeen](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101457305-church-of-st-john-the-baptist-and-boundary-walls-to-the-churchyard-cemetery-and-former-rectory-st-just)
- [Friends of Pendeen Church](http://www.friendsofpendeenchurch.org.uk/)