All Saints Church, Wraxall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
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| 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 special old church in Wraxall, Somerset, England. It's named "All Saints'" because it's dedicated to all the saints. A large churchyard with many gravestones surrounds the building.
The church building you see today was built in the 1300s. Its tall tower, clock, and bells were added in later years. This church is very important, so English Heritage has given it a Grade I listed building status. This means it's a historic building that needs to be protected.
Church records from 1562 still exist. These old books show important events like baptisms. Inside the church, in the chancel, you can see painted stone figures of Sir Edmond Gorges and his wife. The old house where the church leader lived, called the rectory, was built in the 1600s.
The West Tower is about 26 meters (85 feet) tall. It holds eight bells, and three of them are from the year 1705! The clock face on the tower was added in 1730. The big churchyard also has several monuments for the Gibbs family. They used to own the nearby Tyntesfield Estate. The National Trust bought this estate after the death of Baron Wraxall.
History of All Saints' Church
The southern doorway of the church is very old. It was part of an even earlier building from the Norman period. Some parts of the church, like the chancel and north aisle, were rebuilt around that time. The tower, roofs, and windows were made bigger in the 1400s. Members of the Gorges family were important lords of this area for about 400 years. Many of them are buried under the church floors.
In 2006, the church leaders started an exciting project. They wanted to turn an old school building on the church grounds into a new meeting room. This building, called the Old Georgian School, first opened in 1809. The plan was to add restrooms, facilities for people with disabilities, and a kitchen. This project was expected to cost about £200,000 and began in 2009.
More About Historic Buildings
- 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
