Church of St Andrew, Aller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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| Location | Aller, Somerset, England |
| Built | 11th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St Andrew | |
| Designated | 17 April 1959 |
| Reference no. | 1227327 |
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The Church of St Andrew in Aller, Somerset, England, is a very old church. It was built way back in the 11th century, which means it's over 900 years old! This church is so important that it's listed as a Grade II* historic building. This means it's a particularly important building of more than special interest.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Church
The Church of St Andrew has very old roots, going back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. Some parts of the church, like a door and a window, are from the 12th and 13th centuries. Over the years, the church has been repaired and updated many times. The biggest update happened in 1861–62. An architect named John Norton added a vestry, which is a room used by the clergy and for storing church items.
Protecting the Church's Future
Historic England has placed this church on its Heritage at Risk Register. This list helps keep an eye on important historic places that might need repairs or care. Work has already been done on the church's tower. However, more work is still needed on the roofs to keep the building safe and sound for many more years.
Architecture and Special Features
The Church of St Andrew is built from a local stone called hamstone. Its roofs are made of slate. The church has a main area called a nave and a smaller area near the altar called a chancel. The church tower has three levels and is supported by strong corner buttresses, which are like stone supports.
Inside the Church: Old and New
Most of the things you see inside the church today are from the 1800s. But there's one very special item: a wooden pulpit from 1610. A pulpit is a raised stand where a preacher gives a sermon.
The Ancient Fonts
The church has two fonts, which are bowls used for baptism. One font is shaped like a tulip, and the other is octagonal (eight-sided). The most amazing one is a simple limestone bowl, less than a metre tall. Experts believe this font is from the Saxon period, making it incredibly old! It's one of only three such fonts in England.
King Alfred and the Saxon Font
This ancient font might have been used for the baptism of Guthrum. Guthrum was a Viking leader who was defeated by King Alfred the Great after the Battle of Ethandun in 878. After his defeat, Guthrum agreed to be baptized, and this font might have been the very one used for that important event!
The Font's Journey and Its Copy
For many years, this special font was lost. It was found in a pond in the vicarage garden around 1870. Now, it stands proudly in the south-west corner of the church's nave. Later, in the 1880s, a copy of Aller's historic font was made by a stonemason in Corvallis, Oregon, in the United States. This copy was made to remember the son of the rector (church leader) of Aller, Rev. J.Y. Nicholson. The copy of the font is now in the Episcopalian Church of the Good Samaritan.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
