Church of St Lawrence, Rode facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Lawrence |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Rode, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°16′45″N 2°16′36″W / 51.2793°N 2.2766°W |
| Construction started | 14th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Church of St Lawrence is a historic church located in Rode, a village in Somerset, England. This beautiful building was mostly built in the late 1300s and early 1400s. It was later repaired and updated in 1874 by Charles Edward Davis. Today, it is recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site.
It's thought that an even older church might have stood on the same spot before this one. Some small pieces of a Norman style doorway, which is a very old type of building design, can still be seen today.
History of the Church
The Church of St Lawrence has seen many changes over hundreds of years. In 1774, some important work was done on the pulpit (where the priest speaks) and the church bells. Later, between 1873 and 1874, the church went through a big update known as a Victorian restoration. This was a common practice in the Victorian era to repair and sometimes redesign old churches.
The Church Bells
The church tower has held bells since the 1500s! In 1753, a famous bell-making family, the Bilbies from Chew Stoke, made a new set of six bells for the church. One of these bells was remade in 1817 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, another well-known bell maker.
These bells hung in the tower for a long time, even into the 2000s. However, they couldn't be rung because the wooden frame holding them was not safe. Between 2003 and 2006, the old wooden frame was replaced with a strong new one made of steel. After this important work, the bells were blessed again and could be rung safely once more!
Clipping the Church Ceremony
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The Church of St Lawrence is famous for a special yearly event called Clipping the church. This is a very old custom that has been celebrated in the United Kingdom for many centuries. It usually takes place on Easter Monday or Shrove Tuesday.
The word "clipping" comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word, "clyp-pan", which means "to embrace" or "to clasp." During the ceremony, people form a large circle around the church, holding hands. They face outwards, as if giving the church a big hug! Once the circle is complete, everyone often cheers, and sometimes they sing hymns.
At Rode, the custom is a little different. The participants form a circle facing inwards. They dance a bit from side to side before rushing inwards together and cheering loudly. This ancient tradition is a way for the community to show their love and connection to their church.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of Somerset towers
