Christ Church, Rode facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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| Location | Rode, Somerset, England |
| Built | 1824 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 11 March 1968 |
| Reference no. | 1058062 |
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The Church of St Peter in Rode, England, was built in 1824. It is a very old and important building. Today, it is no longer used as a church. It is now a special building that is protected because of its history.
Contents
History of Christ Church
Why Was the Church Built?
The Church of St Peter was built by Henry Goodridge. He was an architect. It was built for Charles Daubeny. He was an Archdeacon, which is a senior church leader. At that time, the area was split between two counties. Rode Hill was in Wiltshire, and Rode village was in Somerset.
Mr. Daubeny wanted people to go to a church in their own county. He did not want them to cross the border to the church in Rode village. That church was in a different church area, called the Diocese of Bath and Wells. So, he asked people to donate money to build this new church at Rode Hill.
Church Design and Early Use
The church's design was inspired by a famous building. It looked like King's College Chapel, Cambridge. It had a tall main hall, called a nave, and a special area for the altar, called a chancel.
For many years, this church was a "chapelry" of North Bradley. This means it was a smaller church connected to a larger one. In 1933, it became part of the Rode parish.
The Church Bell's Journey
A bell was made for the church in 1823. It was made by a company called Rudhall of Gloucester. But the bell was too big! It did not have enough space to swing. So, it was only used for static chiming. This means it made sounds without swinging.
In 1995, the church was no longer used for services. It was sold to private owners. The bell was then given to the Keltek Trust. This trust helps find new homes for church bells. Now, this bell is in a church far away. It is in Menangle, New South Wales, Australia.
Repairs and New Life
By the 1990s, the church building needed a lot of repairs. In 1993, a stone piece, called a corbel, fell inside the church. Because of this, the church could not get insurance anymore. There was not enough money to fix it.
After the church was no longer used, repairs were still needed. The south steeple and roof needed fixing. English Heritage helped with money for these repairs.
Today, the old church has a new purpose. It is now a house and a shop for Andrew Hooker Violins. It is also used for music concerts. It is a great example of an old building finding a new life.
