Church of All Saints, Turkdean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints
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Denomination	Church of England
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building
Designated	26 January 1961
Administration
Benefice	Northleach
Diocese	Gloucester
Province	Canterbury

The Anglican Church of All Saints is a very old and special church. It is located in Turkdean, a small village in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. This church was built a long, long time ago in the 12th century. That means it's over 800 years old! Because it's so old and important, it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest.

A Look Back in Time: The Church's History

The Church of All Saints was first built in the 12th century. Imagine, that was during the time of knights and castles! Later, in the late 1400s or early 1500s, some big changes were made. A tall tower was added to the church. The main part of the church, called the nave, was updated. A side section, known as a south aisle, was also built.

Much later, in 1897, the church had a "Victorian restoration". This means it was carefully repaired and updated. This happened during the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria ruled England.

The church's name has changed over time. It was first named after St Mary. Then, it might have been named after St Michael. Finally, in the 1700s, it was given its current name, All Saints. The church is part of a local group of churches called the Northleach benefice. This group is part of the larger Diocese of Gloucester.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The Church of All Saints is made from limestone, a type of rock. Its roofs are covered with special stone slate tiles. The church has several main parts. These include the chancel (the area near the altar), a north aisle (a side section), and a porch. The main part of the church is the nave. The tower was built right into the west end of the nave.

The tower holds three bells. The oldest bell is from the 14th century, which is over 600 years old! The other two bells were made in 1641.

Inside the church, you can find some very old features. In the south wall of the chancel, there is a Norman arch. This arch has a special carved stone panel above it called a tympanum. You can also spot a "scratch dial" on the wall. This was an ancient type of sundial used to tell time.

The church also has small pieces of wall paintings from the 14th century. These old paintings show what the church looked like hundreds of years ago. Sadly, other wall paintings found in 1967 were later covered up with whitewash.