Church of All Saints, Aisholt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church |
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| Location | Aisholt, Somerset, England |
| Built | 14th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of All Saints | |
| Designated | 29 March 1963 |
| Reference no. | 1178112 |
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All Saints Church in Aisholt, Somerset, England, is a very old church. It's the local Anglican parish church for the area. Today, it's part of the Quantock Villages group of churches. This church is a special building because it's a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of the Church
The oldest part of All Saints Church is the arch that leads into the chancel. This arch was built a very long time ago, in the 1300s! Most of the rest of the church was built in the 1400s. Over the years, some small changes were made. There was also some repair work done in the 1890s.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is made of stone and has a roof made of slate. It has a main area called the nave, where people sit. There's also a special area near the altar called the chancel. You can find a small room called a vestry and a side area known as a south aisle with a porch. The tall tower at the west end of the church has strong supports called buttresses.
Here are some cool things you can find inside the church:
- A squint: This is a small hole or opening in the stone wall. It allowed people sitting in the south aisle to see the altar during church services.
- A hatchment: This is a painted shield or coat of arms. It dates back to the 1600s and is on the wall above the door.
- A medieval parish chest: This very old chest was carved out of a single log of wood! It was used to keep important church documents safe.
- A piscina: This is a special basin in the chancel. It was used for washing the sacred vessels after communion.
- A 15th-century font: This is an octagonal (eight-sided) basin used for Baptism.
Famous People Connected to the Church
Many interesting people have had a connection to All Saints Church:
- The diarist William Holland worked as a curate (a type of priest) here in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
- The poet Henry Newbolt used to own a house nearby called The Old Schoolhouse. He worshipped at this church.
- A special plaque inside the church remembers Olive Willis. She was an important person in education.
- Poet and writer Anne Ridler was a student of Olive Willis at Downe House. She also visited this church.
- Theologian, poet, and novelist Charles Williams also worshipped here. He was part of a famous group of writers called the Inklings.
Fun Facts
- All Saints Church once appeared in a pop video for the band Swing out Sister. The video had a theme related to the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
