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Church of All Hallows, South Cerney
Church of All Hallows
All Hallows Church, South Cerney, Gloucestershire.jpg
The church from the churchyard
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Location South Cerney, Gloucestershire
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Status Parish church
Founded C13th-C14th century
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade I
Designated 26 November 1958
Architectural type Church
Administration
Parish South Cerney
Diocese Gloucester

The Church of All Hallows is an old Anglican church. It is located in the village of South Cerney, in Gloucestershire, England. This church is a local parish church for the community.

The church building started in the Norman times, which was a very long time ago. It was changed many times during the Middle Ages. Then, it had a big repair and update in the 1800s. Today, it is still an active church. It is also a special Grade I listed building. This means it is very important because of its history and design.

History of All Hallows Church

The Church of All Hallows began in the Norman period. At that time, it was owned by Gloucester Abbey. Over the years, many changes were made to the church during the medieval period.

In 1857, the tall spire on top of the church tower was hit by lightning. It was destroyed and never rebuilt. The church then had a major restoration in 1862. This work was done by an architect named James Piers St Aubyn.

Today, All Hallows is a busy parish church. It serves the communities of South Cerney and Cerney Wick. In 1999, archaeologists explored the churchyard. They found several old burial pits from the medieval period. It looked like these pits had been changed during the 19th-century repairs.

What Does All Hallows Church Look Like?

The church has a central tower, but it no longer has its original spire. It also has a main area called a nave and a South aisle. The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was built in the 14th century. The porch, which is the entrance area, was added in the 1800s.

The church has a very detailed doorway from the Norman period. This doorway was moved to its current spot by St Aubyn during the 1862 restoration. Experts have noted that it looks similar to a church doorway in Mesland, France. Inside the church, you can see several important wall monuments. These are made of marble and date from the 1700s and 1800s. The church is a Grade I listed building because of its special architecture.

The South Cerney Christ

In 1912, two pieces of a large statue of Christ were found. These were a head and a foot. They were discovered hidden inside a wall in the church's nave. This statue of Christ is from the medieval period. It was probably hidden during the Reformation. This was a time when big religious changes happened in England.

The church later sold these two pieces. They were bought by the British Museum with help from the Art Fund. The full story of the statue is not fully known. Today, you can see copies of the head and foot displayed in the church.

Sources

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