Church of All Saints, Wootton Courtenay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Wootton Courtenay |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°10′49″N 3°31′13″W / 51.1802°N 3.5204°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of All Saints in Wootton Courtenay, Somerset, England, is a very old and important building. It was built way back in the 13th century. This church is so special that it has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
History of the Church
The church you see today was built on the same spot where an even older church stood. That first church was given to a group called the Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards in the 12th century (the 1100s).
The main parts of the church, like the nave (the main area where people sit), the chancel (the area near the altar), and the tall, four-part tower, are all from the 13th century (the 1200s). They were built using local red sandstone. Special Hamstone was used for details like window frames.
In the 15th century (the 1400s), the nave got a new roof. Around the same time, a new section called the north aisle was added. This made the church bigger.
A lot of important repair work, called restoration, happened in the 19th century (the 1800s). During this time, the church's entrance porch was rebuilt. The tower was also made taller. Many of the beautiful wooden carvings inside the church were made by local artists.
In 1964, the roof had to be replaced. This was because of tiny insects called deathwatch beetles. These beetles can cause a lot of damage to old wood.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can find a very old iron-bound chest. This chest is from the 15th century. It was used to keep important church items and valuables safe.
The beautiful stained glass windows you see in the church are from the 19th century. They add a lot of color and light to the building.
The Churchyard
Outside, in the churchyard, there is an old stone cross. This cross dates back to the early 15th century. The top part of the cross, called a calvary (which often shows a scene from the crucifixion), was replaced in the mid-19th century.
The Church Community
The Church of All Saints is part of a larger group of churches. This group is called the benefice of Dunster, Carhampton, Withycombe with Roduish, Timberscombe, and Wootton Courtenay. They all work together within the Exmoor deanery.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
