Church of St Andrew, Blagdon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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| Location | Blagdon, Somerset, England |
| Built | 15th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 9 February 1961 |
| Reference no. | 1146388 |
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The Church of St Andrew is an old church located in Blagdon, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 1400s! This church is considered a special historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is really important and protected.
Contents
The Church Tower
The Church of St Andrew has a very tall tower, about 116 feet high! It has pointy decorations called pinnacles and a fancy patterned wall at the top. There is also a small tower with stairs in one corner. This tower was built in the 1400s and is one of the tallest in Somerset. Inside the tower, there is a bell from 1716. It was made by Edward Bilbie, who came from the famous Bilbie family of bell makers. Most of the rest of the church was rebuilt between 1907 and 1909. This work was paid for by Lord Winterstoke, who was part of the Wills tobacco family.
Inside the Church
When you go inside the church, you can see a special old stone basin called a piscina. It is built into the south wall of the chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar. This basin has a very old style, called Romanesque.
The Lychgate
To the east of the church, there is a special gate called a lychgate. This gate is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it is important on its own. Above the door of the lychgate, there are four old carvings. These carvings are from the Norman period and have survived three times the church was rebuilt.
A Famous Hymn
In the 1760s, a man named Augustus Toplady worked at St Andrew's Church. During this time, he wrote the famous Christian song called "Rock of Ages". People believe he got the idea for the song while he was hiding from a storm under a rock. This rock was in a nearby place called Burrington Combe.
Recent Improvements
In 2013, people worked hard to raise money for the church. They wanted to add new toilets and a kitchen. They also made improvements to stop dampness and to make the church warmer with better insulation.
Church Community
The Church of St Andrew is part of a larger group of churches. This group includes churches in Blagdon, Charterhouse, Compton Martin, and Ubley. They all belong to the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
