Church of St Giles, Leigh-on-Mendip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Giles |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Leigh-on-Mendip |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°13′26″N 2°26′30″W / 51.2239°N 2.4416°W |
| Completed | c. 1350 |
| Height | 94 feet (29 metres) |
The Church of St Giles in Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset, England, is a very old church. It was first built around the year 1350, which is over 670 years ago! Later, around 1500, parts of it were rebuilt. This church is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. One cool thing about it is its unusual clock, which doesn't have a face!
The Church Tower
The church has a tall tower that stands about 94 feet (29 metres) high. This tower was built around 1464. Inside the tower, there are six bells. Five of these bells are also very old, dating back to the 1750s. Imagine how many times they've rung over the centuries!
At the bottom of the tower, on one of its strong support walls called a buttress, you can find a "scratch sundial". This is a simple type of sundial, carved into the stone, that people used to tell time by looking at the sun's shadow.
The Ancient Statue
Inside the church, on the ledge of a window facing southeast, there is a stone statue of Saint Catherine. This statue is incredibly old, possibly from the 12th century, which means it could be over 900 years old! It was discovered in 1898. People believe this statue was originally from another chapel dedicated to St Catherine in a nearby village called Mells, and was later moved to the Church of St Giles.
Church Community
The Church of St Giles is an active church today. It is part of a larger church area called a benefice, which includes Leigh-on-Mendip and Stoke St Michael. This area is part of the Frome deanery, which helps organize churches in the region.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
