Church of St Bartholomew, Yeovilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Bartholomew
Location	Yeovilton, Somerset, England
Built	c. 1300
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of Saint Bartholomew
Designated	19 April 1961
Reference no.	262788
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The Church of St Bartholomew is a very old church in Yeovilton, Somerset, England. It was built a long, long time ago, around the year 1300! This means it's over 700 years old. Because it's so old and important, it's officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This special status helps protect it.

Over the centuries, the church changed owners. It first belonged to a place called Montacute Priory and later became part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a church area. Even though it's been around for so long, it still has parts and decorations from the 1300s and 1400s. It also had a big makeover in the Victorian era, which was in the 1800s.

In the 1900s, the church started to get a bit run down. But after World War II, something special happened! It became connected to the nearby RNAS Yeovilton airbase. Now, it's been beautifully fixed up and serves as the official Memorial Church for the Fleet Air Arm, which is the part of the Royal Navy that flies aircraft.

History of the Church

The very first church here was built in a style called Norman. It was made from local stone called lias and decorated with Hamstone. Between 1272 and 1282, a knight named Sir William of Yeovilton gave the church to Montacute Priory. Later, the priory sold it to Robert Burnell, who was the Bishop of Bath and Wells. This is how it became part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

The church has some amazing old features. In the chancel, which is the area near the altar, you can find a special stone basin called a piscina from the 1300s. There's also some beautiful stained glass from the 1400s. In the nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit, there's a font also from the 1400s. This is where baptisms take place.

In 1872, a new room called a vestry was added. This was part of a big repair and update project during the Victorian restoration. During this time, the old wagon roof was also replaced.

The Tower and Its Bells

The church has a tall, three-part tower that was built in 1486. The money for building this tower was given by Richard Swan, who was the church's rector (a type of priest) at that time.

Inside the tower, there are six bells! The oldest bell is incredibly old, dating back to around 1430. It was made at a bell factory in Exeter. The newest bell was added much more recently, in 1993. It was made at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.

Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church

In the early 1900s, the Church of St Bartholomew was starting to fall apart. But after World War II, something wonderful happened. People from the nearby RNAS Yeovilton airbase started to help. The churchyard, which is the graveyard around the church, has 15 graves of British and Commonwealth soldiers who served during World War II, mostly from the airbase.

By 1988, the church building was considered unsafe. It was even declared "redundant," meaning it wasn't being used as a regular church anymore. But then, the Royal Navy bought it for just £1! Money was raised from people donating, and the church was carefully restored. In 1993, it was reopened as the official Memorial Church for the Fleet Air Arm. This means it's a special place to remember all the brave people who have served in the Fleet Air Arm. The church also holds the Fleet Air Arm's Roll of Honour, which is a list of all those who have served.

New gates for the church porch were made at HMS Daedalus, another naval air station. These gates have the special emblem of the Fleet Air Arm on them. Inside the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Chapel, there's new stained glass with the badges of different RNAS stations, like Gannet, Osprey, Heron, Seahawk, and Daedalus.

See also

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