Church of St Lawrence, Priddy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Lawrence |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Priddy |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°15′35″N 2°40′39″W / 51.2597°N 2.6774°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Lawrence is a very old and special church. It is located in Priddy, a village in Somerset, England. This church was built a long, long time ago, in the 13th century. That's over 700 years ago! It was partly rebuilt in the 15th century. Later, it was carefully fixed up between 1881 and 1888.
This church is so important that it's called a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most historic and protected buildings in England.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Lawrence was officially dedicated to St Lawrence on August 10, 1352. For hundreds of years, it has been a central part of the village.
Fixing Up the Old Church
By the 1800s, the church was getting quite old and needed a lot of repairs. Water was even leaking through the roof! So, the church went through a big project called a Victorian restoration. This means people in the Victorian era (the late 1800s) worked hard to fix and improve it.
During these repairs, they found a special stone. This stone remembered earlier repairs that happened after a huge storm in 1703. The tower of the church also got new repairs during this time.
Exploring the Church Building
The Church of St Lawrence has several main parts. It has a nave (the main part where people sit) and a chancel (the area near the altar). It also has a north aisle, and north and south transepts, which are like arms extending from the main body of the church. There is also a south porch.
The Tower and Bells
The church has a tall, three-stage west tower. This tower is supported by strong diagonal buttresses. These are stone supports that help hold the tower up.
Inside the tower, there are bells. The church originally had three bells. In 1997, two more bells were added, so now there are five bells in total.
Inside the Church
When you step inside the church, you can see many interesting old features.
Old Woodwork and Stone
The church has special wooden screens from the 15th century. These are called rood and parclose screens. There is also a stone pulpit, which is where the priest gives sermons. You can still see the remains of the rood stair, which once led up to a rood loft above the screen.
The Baptismal font is very old, dating back to the Norman period. This means it's from around the 11th or 12th century! The pews (the benches where people sit) and other wooden parts were all replaced during the 19th-century restoration.
Special Treasures
The church owns a beautiful silver-gilt chalice, which is a special cup used in services. It was made in 1573. This valuable item is kept safely in a bank vault.
There is also a very old altar frontal from the 15th century. An altar frontal is a decorative cloth that covers the front of the altar. This one shows irises on Italian brocade fabric. It is now kept in a glass case to protect it.
The Churchyard
The church is surrounded by a circular churchyard. This churchyard is even older than the church building itself! It shows that this spot has been important for a very long time.
The Church of St Lawrence is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
