Church of St Etheldreda, West Quantoxhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Etheldreda |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1856 |
| Location | |
| Location | West Quantoxhead, Somerset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Norton |
| Architectural type | Church |
The Church of St Etheldreda, also known as the Church of St Audries, is a Church of England parish church. It is located in West Quantoxhead, Somerset, England. The church was designed by John Norton. It was built between 1854 and 1856. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is a very important historical site.
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History of St Etheldreda's Church
The Church of St Etheldreda was built where an older church once stood. That first church had parts from the 1200s and 1300s. Its main hall and tower were from the 1400s. By the mid-1800s, the old church was falling apart. It was also too small for everyone who wanted to worship there.
After thinking it over, Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood decided to build a brand new church. He thought this was better than trying to fix the old one. John Norton, an architect from London, drew up the plans. Sir Fuller-Acland-Hood and his father-in-law, Sir Peregrine Acland, paid most of the costs. A Mr. St. Aubyn also gave £300.
Building the New Church
The old church was taken down. Construction of the new church began in 1853. Sir Acland laid the first stone in October of that year. Workers from the estate helped build the church. They were supervised by Sir Acland himself. The stone used was Doulting stone. This work was done by Messrs Wall and Hook from Stroud.
The new church was officially opened on October 17, 1856. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Robert Eden, led the ceremony. The church cost more than £16,000 to build.
The Temporary Wooden Church
While the new church was being built, Acland-Hood set up a temporary wooden church. This allowed people to continue worshipping. Once St Etheldreda's was finished, the wooden church was taken apart. In 1866, it was moved to Stolford. There, it was put back together as St Andrew's Mission Church. Even though it was meant to be temporary, this wooden church is still used today. It is now called St Peter's and is also a Grade II listed building.
Architecture of St Etheldreda's
The church is built from local sandstone found near Sampford Brett. The windows and decorative parts are made from Doulting stone. Inside, the pillars are made of Babbacombe marble. The roof is covered with slabs of Bath stone.
The church was designed in the Early Decorated style. This style was popular in England during the 1200s and 1300s. It has tall windows with beautiful stone patterns. The church can hold 250 people. It includes a main hall (called a nave) with side sections (aisles). There is also a chancel (the area around the altar) and a north chapel. This chapel is used for the organ and as a changing room for clergy.
Key Features of the Church
The church also has a tower on the north-west side. A baptistry (where baptisms take place) is underneath it. There is also a porch on the south side. About 1,000 tons of stone were used for the church's foundations. Vaults were built beneath for the Acland, Hood, and St. Aubyn families. There was also extra space for the rector's family.
The tower has five bells that can be rung. It also has a clock made by Dent of London, a famous clockmaker. The tower is topped with a small spire. A gilded (gold-covered) cross and weather vane sit on top of the spire. The tower's walls have shields with symbols of St Etheldreda. They also show the symbols of the Acland and Hood families.
Interior Details
The church's wooden parts were carved from oak trees. These trees came from Fairfield, Sir Acland's estate. Many of these carvings were done by Mr. Davis of Taunton. This includes the pews (church benches), pulpit (where sermons are given), and the reredos (a screen behind the altar).
The octagonal (eight-sided) font is very old. It belonged to the previous church and dates back to the 1100s. The stone carvings inside the church were done by Farmer of London. The floor of the nave is covered with Minton's tiles. The chancel floor has Minton's encaustic tiles, which are colorful and decorative.
The beautiful stained glass windows in the chancel and north chapel were made by O'Connor of London. A small stained glass window in the baptistry was made by Messrs Hardman of Birmingham. The organ was provided by Walker of London.
Notable People Connected to the Church
Prebendary John Richard Vernon was the rector (head priest) of this church from 1874 until he passed away in 1902. He was a writer and wrote several hymns. He also wrote popular religious books, including The Harvest of a Quiet Eye: leisure thoughts for busy lives (1867).
