All Saints Church, Beeby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church, Beeby |
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Tower of All Saints Church, Beeby
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| OS grid reference | SK 664 083 |
| Location | Beeby, Leicestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1 June 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | Early 14th century |
| Completed | 19th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Orange ironstone nave and tower with white ashlar dressings Brick chancel with red sandstone dressings Granite and timber porch |
All Saints Church is an old Anglican church in the small village of Beeby, Leicestershire, England. It's no longer used for regular church services, which is why it's called a "redundant" church. This special building is protected as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important historically. The Churches Conservation Trust looks after it today.
Contents
History of All Saints Church
Most parts of All Saints Church were built in the early 1300s. The tall tower was added later, in the 1400s. The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was rebuilt in 1819. The south porch, a covered entrance, was added in the 1800s.
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church: What to See
The main part of the church and its tower are made from orange ironstone. This stone has white ashlar details, which are finely cut stones. The chancel is built with bricks and has red sandstone decorations. The south porch is made from granite and wood.
The church has a nave (the main seating area) with a clerestory (a row of windows above). It also has north and south aisles (passageways). There is a chancel and a tower on the west side.
The Church Tower
The tower has three sections and strong corner supports called buttresses. On the lowest part of the tower, there is a west door with a two-light window above it. The middle section has a clock face on its west side. Each side of the top section has a three-light opening for the bells. At the very top of the tower, there is a decorative band called a frieze. It has designs shaped like four-leaf clovers. The top also has a parapet with a jagged edge, like a castle wall. You can also spot gargoyles, which are carved stone figures that act as water spouts. A short, cut-off spire sits on top of the tower.
Other Exterior Features
On the south side of the church, you'll find the porch and two windows. Along the clerestory on both sides, there are windows arranged in pairs. The east end of the chancel has a stone with the date 1819 carved into it. The north wall has a doorway and two three-light windows. These windows feature "Decorated" tracery, which is a fancy stone pattern. Both inside and outside the church, look for large stone carvings called corbels. They show many different images, like a snake, a skull, a scene of the Crucifixion, and various saints.
Inside the Church: What to Discover
The arcade is a row of arches supported by eight-sided stone columns called piers. Three steps lead up from the nave to the chancel. To the north of the chancel arch, there's a door that used to lead to the rood loft. A rood loft was a gallery above the chancel screen.
Screens and Furniture
The chancel screen is mostly from the medieval period, which means it's very old. There are also some old medieval parts in the south aisle screen. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is made of stone and marble. It dates back to around 1860. Above the tower arch, you can see the Royal arms. In the south aisle, there's a board displaying the Ten Commandments.
Font and Bells
The font, used for baptisms, probably dates from the 1200s. It has a small basin supported by four round pillars. The basin is a slightly curved square shape. Each section of the basin has a beautiful flower carving. You can also see box pews in the church, which are enclosed seating areas from the late 1700s. The organ, which has one keyboard, was built around 1925 by J. Porritt. The church has a ring of three bells. One bell was made around 1400 by Johannes de Stafford. The other two bells don't have dates or known makers.
See also
