Church of St John the Evangelist, Milborne Port facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St John the Evangelist |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Norman |
| Town or city | Milborne Port |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°57′55″N 2°27′44″W / 50.9653°N 2.4622°W |
The Church of St John the Evangelist is a very old and important church in Milborne Port, Somerset, England. It's special because parts of it were built a long time ago, even before the Norman conquest in 1066! This means it has features from both the late Anglo-Saxon period and the early Norman period.
The church has a unique shape, called a cruciform plan, which looks like a cross from above. Because of its age and history, English Heritage has given it a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.
Contents
Church History: A Journey Through Time
This church has a long and interesting past, with many changes over the centuries.
Early Beginnings: Anglo-Saxon and Norman Times
Around the time of the Norman Conquest, a powerful person named Regimbald rebuilt his church here. He was an important official who served both King Edward the Confessor and King William the Conqueror. He built the church in a mix of styles. The old entrance on the south side of the church, which is still there today, shows this mix of Anglo-Saxon and Norman designs.
Who Owned the Church?
The church was first given to Cirencester Abbey by King Henry I. They owned it until the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England.
Later, in 1543, Winchester College took control of the church. They kept it until 1824. After that, it was owned by the Marquess of Anglesey, who then sold it to Sir William Coles Medlycott in 1835. You can still see memorials to the Medlycott family inside the church today.
Church Architecture: What Makes it Special
The Church of St John the Evangelist has been changed and added to many times over the centuries.
Changes Over the Years
The roof of the chapel was built in 1641. Later, in 1712, a special area for singers was added at the west end of the church. This was called a "west gallery." Another gallery was added by 1747. The west gallery was made even bigger in 1812-14.
In 1826, a new section called a "north aisle" was added to the main part of the church, known as the nave. This new aisle also had a gallery. However, in 1841, a gallery over the rood screen (a screen that separated the nave from the chancel) was removed.
Old Meets New: Victorian Restoration
Even though the main part of the church (the nave) was almost completely rebuilt between 1867 and 1869, some very old parts remain. The central tower and the chancel (the area around the altar) are from before the Norman Conquest.
The south transept (one of the "arms" of the cross shape) was also heavily repaired and changed during the Victorian era. The north transept was rebuilt along with the nave. This means that about half of the original Anglo-Saxon church was changed or replaced after 1867.
The new nave is about 28 feet (8.5 meters) longer than the old one. Pictures from 1893 show that the old front of the church had interesting triangular arches and strong, square pillars.
The Unique Tower
The central tower, which is called the "crossing," is wider than the nave, transepts, or chancel. This is a special feature often seen in Anglo-Saxon churches. You can see a similar design at nearby Sherborne Abbey.
Inside the church, the four arches under the tower are still there. The east and west arches were rebuilt in a pointed style in the 14th century. The north and south arches have become slightly oval-shaped over time, possibly because of the weight of the upper part of the tower, which was added later.
The tower holds eight bells. Three of these bells were made in 1736 by the Bilbie family, who were famous bell makers. Two more were made in 1846, and the rest were remade in the 20th century.
Chancel Details
The chancel was restored again in 1908. During this work, plaster decorations were added high up on the walls. The beautiful stained glass in the east window was made by Bainbridge Reynolds.
The walls of the chancel have decorative strips of stone, similar to those found at Bradford-on-Avon. These strips were cut into when windows were added later. The chancel walls are about 2 feet 8 inches (81 cm) thick, which is a typical size for Anglo-Saxon buildings.
This church, with its ancient Anglo-Saxon parts, is very important for helping us understand what large churches looked like in England before the Norman Conquest.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
