Church of St John the Baptist, Midsomer Norton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist |
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| Location | Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St John the Baptist | |
| Designated | 19 May 1950 |
| Reference no. | 31927 |
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The Church of St John the Baptist is an Anglican church in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England. It is a very important historical building, given a special status as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is considered to be of more than special interest. The church is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a large area managed by the Church of England.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
We don't know the exact year the church was first built. But historians think it was probably around the year 1150. For a long time, the church was connected to Merton Priory in London. A priory is like a monastery, where monks live and worship.
This connection lasted until the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many religious houses in England. In 1539, the priory gave up its rights to the church. After this, King Henry VIII gave the church to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous college at Oxford University.
The Midsomer Norton Knight
Inside the church, there used to be a special carving called the Midsomer Norton Knight. This carving is a tomb effigy. An effigy is a sculpture of a person, often placed on a tomb. This one was made in the 13th or 14th century. It might show a member of the Gourney or Warknell families.
The wooden effigy once sat on top of a tomb. But the tomb was taken down in the 1700s. The carving was then moved into the vicarage garden. People started calling it the Jack o’ Lent. They even used it to represent Judas in some local traditions. In 1975, the effigy was found again. It was then moved to the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery to be preserved.
Changes Over the Years
The church's tower was built in the 1400s. However, the very top parts of the tower were added later, in 1674. This includes a statue of King Charles II. Most of the rest of the church was also rebuilt around 1483. Sir John Cheddar helped pay for some of this work.
In 1775, a famous preacher named John Wesley was allowed to give a sermon at the church. This was an important event at the time.
Major Renovations
By the early 1800s, the church needed a lot of repairs. So, a big rebuilding project started in 1830. The architect for this work was John Pinch the younger from Bath. He rebuilt the church in the Gothic Revival style. This style copied the look of medieval Gothic churches. The project cost about £2,829, which was a lot of money back then.
The church was made even bigger in the 1900s. A new chancel and a Lady Chapel were added. A few years after the main rebuilding, the church walls and gate piers were also built. In 1878, the inside of the church was changed again. This was done to make space for 700 people to sit. Choirs were also brought in to sing during services.
Recent Restoration Work
Since 2009, a major restoration project has been happening at the church. The floor in the chancel has been replaced. The altar and choir stalls have been moved to new positions. Glass doors were put into the Lady Chapel. A new glass screen was also built at the front of the St Barnabas Chapel.
There was some discussion about how to help pay for this restoration work. One idea was to put a mobile phone mast on the church tower. This proposal was considered to help raise money for the repairs.
Church Architecture
Inside the Church
The Church of St John the Baptist has a special design. It includes a five-bay nave with aisles. A nave is the main part of the church where people sit. Aisles are the passages on either side. It also has a two-bay chancel, which is the area near the altar. There is also an extra Lady Chapel, a smaller chapel often dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The west tower has three main sections.
The font in the church is very old. It is from the Norman period, which means it dates back to the 11th or 12th century. The large east window has beautiful stained glass. This glass was made by Charles Eamer Kempe and put in place in 1889.
Churchyard Memorial
In the churchyard, there is a memorial that remembers a sad event. It is dedicated to 12 miners who died in 1839. This happened at the Wellsway pit in Westfield. Their rope broke, leading to the tragedy. The memorial helps us remember their lives.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
