Church of St Laurence, East Harptree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Laurence |
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| Location | East Harptree, Somerset England |
| Built | Late 12th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 21 September 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1312831 |
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The Church of St Laurence is a very old church located in East Harptree, a village in Somerset, England. It was first built way back in the late 1100s! Because it's so old and important, it's known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a special historic place that needs to be protected.
This church has grown over time. The first part was built in the 1100s. Then, in the 1200s, more parts were added to make it bigger. The tall tower you see today was built much later, in the 1400s.
The tower has three main sections and is supported by strong diagonal buttresses (stone supports). The very top edge of the tower, called the parapet, was repaired in 1633. Look closely at the tower, and you'll see a small, many-sided turret (a little tower) in one corner. Under the parapet, there are cool stone gargoyles! Inside the tower, there are six bells.
In the 1880s, the church was repaired, and new seats were put in for everyone.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll find some amazing old features. In a special spot within the old Norman porch, there's a tomb. This is the tomb of Sir John Newton, who passed away in 1568. On the tomb, you can see statues of him wearing his armor, lying next to his wife, Margaret. On the front of the tomb, there are carvings of their eight sons and twelve daughters kneeling. A fancy roof, called a canopy, covers the tomb. It's held up by six decorated columns. This tomb used to be where the altar is now, but it was moved to the porch in 1883.
In the main part of the church, called the nave, there's a very old font from the Norman times. This is where baptisms take place. You can also see a Jacobean pulpit, which is a raised platform where sermons are given.
The church also has a beautiful stained glass window made by Karl Parsons. This window was put in place in 1919 as a special memorial for the eight men from the village who sadly died in World War I. It's a large window with three sections. In the middle section, you can see an image of St George. To the left is St Laurence, and to the right is St Agnes, who is holding a lamb.
The church organ is a special instrument that makes music. It was made by a company called Vowles from Bristol. It's an electric organ with two keyboards, and it was fixed up in 2009.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
