Church of St Andrew, Dowlish Wake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew
Location	Dowlish Wake, Somerset, England
Built	14th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Andrew
Designated	4 February 1958
Reference no.	1366405
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The Church of St Andrew is an old and important church located in Dowlish Wake, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 14th century! This church is so special that it's officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic place.

A Long History

This church has been around for centuries! Some parts of it, like the chancel (the area near the altar), are even older, dating back to the 13th century. But most of the church, including its tall tower, was built in the 14th century. It was updated again in the 15th century.

Later, in 1861 and 1862, the church got a big makeover. This was called a 'Victorian restoration' because it happened during the Victorian era. An architect named Benjamin Ferrey led this work, and many parts of the church were rebuilt to keep it strong and beautiful.

The Church of St Andrew is part of the Winsmoor group of churches. It belongs to the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a larger church area.

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Andrew is made of stone with special hamstone decorations and a slate roof. Inside, it has a main area called the nave, a north aisle (a side section), a chancel, and a north-east chapel.

The Tower and Bells

The church has a tall, three-part tower. Strong corner buttresses (supports) help hold it up. At the top, there's a battlemented parapet, which looks a bit like the top of a castle wall. Inside the tower, there's a stair turret (a small tower with stairs).

The tower also holds a set of eight bells! Imagine the sound they make when they ring.

Inside the Church

Most of the things you see inside the church today, like the benches and decorations, are from the 1800s. However, there's one very old and special item: the font. This stone basin, used for baptisms, is from the 11th or 12th century! It was moved to this church in 1575 from another church that was being taken down.

Speke Family Memorials

You'll find several memorials inside the church, especially for the Speke family. One important memorial is for John Hanning Speke. He was a famous explorer who went on three big trips to Africa. He was trying to find the source of the Nile River. He was the first European to reach Lake Victoria, a huge lake in Africa!

Around the Church

Next to the church, in the churchyard, is a building called Speke Hall. It was built in 1840 to be a Sunday School, but now it's used as the village hall for community events. There's also a memorial stone just outside the church gate.

See also

• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells