England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Thorpe Achurch St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Thorpe Achurch, simply Achurch on today's Ordnance Survey mapping, lies in eastern Northamptonshire no too far from its border with neighbouring Huntingdonshire. Thorpe Achurch is located roughly 4 miles north of the small market town of Thrapston and sits about a mile west of the A605 road which links Thrapston with Oundle & Peterborough. There is very little to modern day's Achurch, a hamlet on the southern banks of the River Nene with a few farms and cottages lining a dead-end lane leading to the church, the route continues as a footpath across the Nene to Wadenhoe, part of the local Nene Valley Way local hiking trail. Like most small parishes in this area of the county Thorpe Achurch would have primarily earned its income from arable farming, although the proximity of the Nene and its floodplain would have granted some pastures too. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, the branch railway line linking Peterborough & Wellingborough having been built and closed, it skirts the southern edges of Thorpe Achurch parish. The Nene drains the parish northeastwards, continuing onward to reach the North Sea through The Wash. Thorpe Achurch is sited at around 40 metres above the sea in gentle terrain, land rises steadily away from the river to local high spots of just over 70 metres. Thorpe Achurch parish was typically sized for its area, covering just under 1,500 acres it would have supported a population of close to 200 parishioners. Thorpe Achurch was also a typical rural holding for Peterborough Abbey, offering just 8 ploughs together with the usual meadows & woodland.

The Church

St John's church sits at the western end of the dead-end lane that heads northwest from the lane coming from Thorpe Waterville, beyond the church it becomes a footpath. In medieval times St John was transeptal church these being later removed. Remains of that medieval origin are scant but present having not been totally obliterated by later changes. The earliest remaining fabric identified by Pevsner dates to c1200 and refers to the eastern respond of the former transept, also from this late 13th century date is the attractive steeple of the western tower and the windows of what remains of the southern transept. Much else dates from the work of the Victorians, two campaigns of 1862/3 & 1874, the first being the major work, largely rebuilt the remainder of the church such that Pevsner remarks that it "externally is an almost totally Victorian appearance". Further work in 1912 added a Perpendicular style clerestory as the final major piece of structural work. As the lane is very narrow it is recommended that parking be done where one can turn as otherwise you are faced with a long reverse. The lane terminates at the lychgate which has wooden gates within for entry. Sadly mature trees take away the favoured southeastern aspects making the church a challenging one to acquire, especially on a sunny day.