All Saints' Church, Sutton Courtenay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints |
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All Saints' church from the south
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| Location | Sutton Courtenay |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | All Saints' Sutton Courtenay |
| History | |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 9 February 1966 |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 8 (Ring) |
| Tenor bell weight | 0 long tons 12 cwt (1,300 lb or 0.6 t) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sutton Courtenay |
| Diocese | Oxford |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of All Saints is an old church in Sutton Courtenay, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church has been around since at least the 1100s! It's considered a very important historical building, listed as Grade I since 1966. You can find it right in the middle of the village, close to the village green.
History of the Church
The main part of the church, called the nave, and the lower parts of its tall tower were built a long time ago, in the late Norman period. The font, where people are baptized, is also from this time. It's decorated with cool pointed arches.
Later, in the 1200s, the chancel (the area around the altar) and the third part of the tower were added. In the 1300s, more parts were built, like the clerestory (a row of windows high up in the nave walls) and the north and south aisles with their arcades (rows of arches). The clerestory has five windows on each side.
The south porch, made of brick with two floors, was added in the early 1500s. The strong oak door on the south side is from the same time.
For a while, different groups controlled the church. Sometimes it was Abingdon Abbey, a monastery, and sometimes the Pope. In 1258, the Abbey rented out the church. Later, when Hugh Courtenay took over the local manor, he also gained rights to the church.
Look closely at the stone around the tower door. You might see marks carved there! People believe these were made by soldiers returning from the Crusades, thanking God for bringing them home safely. The church tower also has a special clock with only one hand. There are only 22 of these unique clocks in all of England!
Inside, there's a beautiful wooden screen called a rood screen from the 1400s. It has five sections. Above the arch leading to the chancel, there's a painting of the royal coat of arms from the Stuart family.
Something exciting happened in 1643 during the English Civil War. Gunpowder and weapons stored in the church exploded! This broke windows and damaged part of the tower. The King's coat of arms painting is thought to have been added after the king was put back on the throne in 1660.
Some of the church seats, called pews, are very old. One is dated 1633. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is shaped like a hexagon and was given to the church in 1901.
Church Bells
The church tower has a set of eight bells that can be rung together. This is called a ring. The bells range in weight, with the heaviest being about 12 hundredweight (which is about 600 kilograms!).
Some of the bells are very old. Two of them were made in 1675 by Richard Keene. Another was made in 1775 by Thomas Swain. Robert II Wells made one in 1787, and Robert Taylor made another in 1829. The largest bell was remade in 1965. Until 1986, there were only six bells. Then, two new bells were added to make the set of eight we hear today.
Churchyard and Famous Graves
The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. About 10 meters (33 feet) south of the chancel, there's a 15th-century stone tomb decorated with cool patterns. It's also a very old and important structure. Another interesting tomb, from the 1700s, is about 15 meters (49 feet) east of the chancel. It was built for Thomas Dalby, who passed away in 1734.
Many famous people are buried in this churchyard! These include:
- H. H. Asquith: He was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He and his second wife, Margot Asquith, are buried here.
- David Astor: A well-known newspaper owner.
- George Orwell: A very famous writer, whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair.
The writer Bill Bryson visited this graveyard and wrote in his book Notes from a Small Island how amazing it was to find the graves of two globally important people in one small village churchyard.
H.H. Asquith passed away in 1928. He wanted to be buried in Sutton Courtenay, not in Westminster Abbey (where many important British figures are buried). He had a simple church service. Margot Asquith was buried with him in 1945.
George Orwell's grave is simple, with a red rose bush growing on it. Orwell didn't have any direct connection to Sutton Courtenay. However, he was a friend of David Astor, who helped arrange his burial here. Orwell had asked to be buried "according to the rites of the Church of England, in the nearest convenient cemetery." So, his body was brought from London and buried on January 26, 1950.
See Also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Oxfordshire
