Church of St John the Baptist, Hatch Beauchamp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Hatch Beauchamp |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°59′08″N 2°59′25″W / 50.9856°N 2.9902°W |
The Church of St John the Baptist is a very old and important church located in Hatch Beauchamp, a village in Somerset, England. It was first built a long, long time ago during the Norman period. Because of its history and special design, it is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England.
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Exploring the Church's Design
The church has a tall, three-part tower that was built around the year 1500. This tower has a special top that looks like the battlements of a castle, which is called "crenellated."
Tower Details
The tower is decorated with many interesting features:
- It has pointy decorations called "crocketed pinnacles."
- There is a fancy stone fence at the top with four-leaf shapes, known as "quatrefoils."
- You can also see stone figures called "gargoyles." These were originally designed to drain water away from the building.
- The tower is supported by strong diagonal buttresses. These are different from the usual corner supports found on many other churches.
- Look closely at the stonework, and you might spot some "hunky punks." These are funny stone carvings, often shaped like dogs or other animals.
Victorian Changes
The church was updated and repaired in the 1800s. This type of work is often called a "Victorian restoration." During this time, extra sections were added to the north and south sides of the church. A famous architect named George Gilbert Scott oversaw these changes in 1867.
A Special Window
Inside the church, there is a window that remembers a brave soldier named John Rouse Merriott Chard. He was an English soldier who lived from 1847 to 1897. John Chard won the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He earned it for his heroic actions during the defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879.
Part of a Larger Group
The Church of St John the Baptist is part of a group of churches called the Seven Sowers benefice. This group also includes churches in nearby villages like Curry Mallet, Beercrocombe, Orchard Portman, Staple Fitzpaine, Stoke St Mary (which includes Thurlbear), and West Hatch. The church is also part of the larger area known as the archdeaconry of Taunton.
