Church of All Saints, Langport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints
Location	Langport, Somerset, England
Built	15th century
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated	17 April 1959
Reference no.	263185
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The Church of All Saints in Langport, Somerset, England, is a very old and special building. It was first built around the 1100s. However, most of the church you see today was rebuilt in the late 1400s. It is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historic site.

Exploring the Church's Design

The Tower and Its Cool Carvings

The church has a tall, square tower. This tower was built around 1455. The very top part of the tower was rebuilt later in 1833. New sections, called aisles, were added to the church in 1499.

You can see many interesting stone carvings on the church. These are called gargoyles, but people in the area often call them 'hunky punks'. One special carving above the walls shows a portcullis. This symbol comes from the family crest of Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby. She was a powerful lady who owned land nearby. People believe two of the 'hunky punks' look like Margaret Beaufort and her son, Henry VII of England.

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

The large window at the east end of the church is very special. It has stained glass from the late 1400s. This glass shows different saints, which fits the church's name, "All Saints." Even though it was repaired in the 1800s, it is still one of the best-preserved medieval windows in Somerset. It's also unusual because all the glass in this window is from the same time period.

How the Church is Used Today

A Church with a New Purpose

The Church of All Saints is not used for regular weekly services anymore. Its church members now go to St Mary's Huish, a nearby church. All Saints is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to save old churches. The church officially became a "redundant church" on July 1, 1994. The Trust took over its care on June 28, 1995. Since then, the Trust has done a lot of work to repair and rebuild parts of the church.

Young People Bringing Life to the Church

In 2011, the Churches Conservation Trust started an exciting project. They worked with the local community in Langport to find new ways to use All Saints church. A group of young people, aged 16 to 25, are now helping to bring new life to the church. This group is called the 'New Saints'. They are working to make the church a useful place for everyone in the community.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
• List of Somerset towers
• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Southwest England