Church of St John the Baptist, Wellington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Baptist
General information
Town or city	Wellington
Country	England
Coordinates	50°58′44″N 3°13′44″W / 50.9788°N 3.2288°W / 50.9788; -3.2288
Completed	15th century

The Church of St John the Baptist in Wellington, Somerset, England, is a very old and special building. It was mostly built in the 15th century, which means the 1400s! This church is so important that it's been named a Grade I listed building, meaning it's one of the most historically significant buildings in the country.

A Look Inside This Historic Church

Before the current church, there was another church on this same spot, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The tall tower you see today was added around 1510. Imagine how many years it has stood there!

The church has an organ that was rebuilt in 1997. Before that, an even older organ was put in around the year 1700. During the 1800s, the church was "restored" several times. This means people worked to repair and update parts of the church to keep it looking good and strong.

Unique Features and Art

One very special thing to see inside the church is a carving called a Lily crucifix. It's found on the middle part of the east window in the Lady Chapel. This carving is quite rare in Anglican churches in England. It shows Christ on a lily plant, or holding one. It's a beautiful and unusual piece of art.

The church also has a wonderful Reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar). You can see a picture of it below, though the original is now kept safe at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton Castle.

Famous People and Old Stories

Inside the church, you'll find a monument to a very important person named John Popham. He passed away in 1607. John Popham held many powerful jobs in England. He was the Speaker of the House of Commons, which means he led important meetings in the government. He was also the Attorney General, a top lawyer for the country, and later the Lord Chief Justice, one of the most important judges.

The church also holds another amazing piece of history: the very first epitaph (words written on a tombstone) in the English language! It's on the tomb of Richard of Wellington, a priest from the 1300s. Before this, all epitaphs were written in Latin. This shows how important this church is to the history of the English language.

See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in Taunton Deane
• List of towers in Somerset
• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells