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 an old church in Yeovilton, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, around the year 1300. This church is a special historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building.

Over the centuries, the church changed hands. It belonged to Montacute Priory and later became part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a church area. Even today, you can see parts of the church and its decorations from the 1300s and 1400s. It was also greatly repaired and updated during the Victorian era (in the 1800s).

In the 1900s, the church started to fall apart. But after World War II, it became linked to the nearby airbase, RNAS Yeovilton. Because of this connection, the church was saved and restored. It is now a special place called the Fleet Air Arm’s Memorial Church.

The Church's Long History

The Church of St Bartholomew has a rich past, dating back many centuries.

Early Days and Ownership

The first church here was built in the Norman style. It was made from local stone called lias stone and decorated with Hamstone, which is another type of stone. Between 1272 and 1282, a knight named Sir William of Yeovilton gave the church to Montacute Priory, a type of monastery.

Later, the priory sold the church to Robert Burnell, who was the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Eventually, the church became a part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. This means it was under the care of the bishop in that area.

Inside the Church

If you look inside the church, you'll find some very old features.

• The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, has a piscina from the 1300s. A piscina is a stone basin used for washing holy vessels.
• You can also see some beautiful stained glass windows from the 1400s.
• In the nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit, there's a font from the 1400s. This is a large basin used for baptisms.

In 1872, a major renovation happened. This was part of a big trend called the Victorian restoration, where many old churches were repaired and updated. During this time, a new room called a vestry was added, and the old wagon roof was replaced.

The Tower and Its Bells

The church has a tall tower with three sections, built in 1486. The money for building this tower came from 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 was made around 1430 at a place called the Exeter Bell foundry. The newest bell was added much later, in 1993, and was made at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

A Memorial for Heroes: The Fleet Air Arm Church

In the early 1900s, the Church of St Bartholomew was in bad shape and starting to fall apart.

A New Purpose

After World War II, something special happened. The church formed a strong connection with the people from the nearby naval airbase, RNAS Yeovilton. Many of the people who served at the airbase during the war are buried in the churchyard. There are 15 graves of British and Commonwealth forces from World War II there.

By 1988, the church building was considered unsafe. It was declared "redundant," meaning it was no longer needed for regular church services. But instead of being left to crumble, the church was sold to the Royal Navy for just £1!

Restoration and Dedication

Money was raised from public donations to restore the church. In 1993, after all the hard work, the church was reopened. It became the official Memorial Church for the Fleet Air Arm. The Fleet Air Arm is the part of the Royal Navy that operates aircraft.

Today, the church holds the Fleet Air Arm's Roll of Honour. This is a special list that remembers all the brave people from the Fleet Air Arm who have died in service.

You can also see new porch gates at the church. These gates were made at another naval base, HMS Daedalus. They have the special symbol of the Fleet Air Arm on them. Inside the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Chapel, there are modern stained glass windows. These windows show 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