All Saints Church, Wraxall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Wraxall, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°26′40″N 2°44′05″W / 51.4444°N 2.7348°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
All Saints' Church is a historic church located in Wraxall, Somerset, England. It's known as the parish church for the area. The church is named "to all the Saints" and is surrounded by a large cemetery where many people are buried.
This beautiful church was built in the 14th century, which means it's over 600 years old! Over time, things like its tall tower, a clock, and bells were added. Because of its age and importance, English Heritage has given it a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical site.
Old records from the church, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1562. These records tell us about people who were baptized there. Inside the church, in the chancel area, you can see painted stone figures of Sir Edmond Gorges and his wife. The old rectory, which is the house where the church's priest used to live, was built in the 17th century.
Discovering the Church's Features
The West Tower of All Saints' Church stands tall at about 26 meters (85 feet). It holds eight bells, and three of these bells are very old, dating back to 1705! The clock face you see on the tower was added in 1730.
The big churchyard around the church has many monuments. Some of these are for the Gibbs family, who used to own the nearby Tyntesfield Estate. This estate is now looked after by the National Trust.
A Glimpse into the Church's Past
The southern doorway of the church is even older than the rest of the building. It was part of an earlier church from the Norman period, which was a very long time ago! Parts of the chancel, north aisle, and south porch were rebuilt around that time. Later, in the 15th century, the tower, roofs, and windows were rebuilt and made larger.
The Gorges family were important lords of this area for about 400 years. Many members of this family are buried under the church's floors. Even though most of their headstones have been moved or are gone, their history is still part of the church.
In 2006, the church leaders started an exciting project. They decided to turn an old school building on the church grounds into a new meeting room and office. This school, called the Old Georgian School, first opened in 1809. The project included adding restrooms, facilities for people with disabilities, and a kitchen. It was planned to start in 2009.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
