Church of St Andrew, Compton Dundon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew
Location	Compton Dundon, Somerset, England
Built	11th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Andrew
Designated	17 April 1959
Reference no.	1176782
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The Church of St Andrew is a historic Anglican church found in Compton Dundon, Somerset, England. Most of this church was built a very long time ago, in the 14th and 15th centuries. It's considered a "Grade II* listed building", which means it's a really important historical site. This special status helps protect the church because of its unique architecture and long history.

A Look Back: History of the Church

The oldest part of the Church of St Andrew is the chancel, which was built in the 14th century. The chancel is the area near the altar where the clergy usually sit. The rest of the church was built a bit later, in the 15th century.

Around the year 1900, the church had some important repair work done. This helped to keep the old building in good condition. The church is part of a group of churches in the area, including those in Street and Walton. They all belong to the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a large church area in England.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The Church of St Andrew is made from stone, with special hamstone details that give it a unique look. Its roofs are covered with clay tiles. The church has a main area called the nave, which has four sections, and a smaller two-section chancel. There's also a porch on the south side and a small room called a vestry on the north-east side.

The church has a tall, three-level tower on its west side. This tower is held up by strong corner supports called buttresses. Inside the tower, there are bells that were rehung in 1936.

Special Features Inside

Inside the church, you can find some really old and interesting items. There's a piscina from the 14th century, which is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels. You can also see an eight-sided wooden pulpit that dates back to 1628. A pulpit is where the preacher stands to give sermons.

There are also two old wooden chests in the church. One is from the 14th century and the other from the 16th century. These chests were likely used to store important church items.

The Ancient Yew Tree

In the churchyard, there's an amazing ancient yew tree. Experts believe this tree is over 1700 years old! That means it was growing even before the church was built. The trunk of this incredible tree is hollow, and it measures about 23 feet (7 meters) around. It's a true living piece of history.

You can also find an 18th-century chest tomb in the churchyard.