Church of St James, Coln St. Dennis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 26 January 1961 |
| Administration | |
| Benefice | Chedworth Yanworth and Stowell Coln Rogers and Coln St Dennis |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St James is an old church located in a village called Coln St. Dennis in Gloucestershire, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 12th century! This church is so special that it's officially protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a really important historical place.
Church History
This church belongs to the Church of England. It is named after Saint James the Great. Over many years, the church was also named after other saints. In the 13th century, it was dedicated to Saint Katherine. Later, in the 18th century, it was dedicated to Saint Dennis. Some people even think it was once named after Saint Kenelm.
The church has a tower in the middle. In the 15th century, a belfry (a place for bells) was added to this tower. This part of the church was rebuilt in 1904. This rebuilding was part of a bigger project to fix up the church. An architect named William Weir led this work. He worked for a group called the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
The Church of St James is part of a larger group of churches. This group is called the Chedworth Yanworth and Stowell Coln Rogers and Coln St Dennis benefice. It is also part of the Diocese of Gloucester, which is a church area led by a bishop.
Church Design
The Church of St James was first built in a style called Norman. This style was popular in the 12th century. Over time, new parts were added in different styles. These include Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic styles. You can see these changes in the windows and other details.
The church is made from limestone, which is a type of rock. Its roof is made of stone slates. The building has three main parts:
- The chancel: This is the area around the altar.
- The nave: This is the main part of the church where people sit.
- A central tower: This tower stands in the middle of the church.
Inside the church, you can find an octagonal (eight-sided) font. This font is where baptisms take place. It is very old, dating back to the 12th century. There is also a piscina in the chancel, which is a basin used for washing sacred vessels.
The church also has special wooden panels. One panel lists the names of people from the village who survived World War I. Another panel lists the names of those who sadly died in World War I and World War II. These panels help us remember the villagers who served in these big wars.
