Church of St Margaret, Bagendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Margaret |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 26 November 1958 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bagendon |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Margaret is an old church located in Bagendon, a village in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 12th century, which means it is over 800 years old! Because it is so old and important, it is protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very special historical building.
A Look Back in Time
We don't know exactly when the first church was built here. The church you see today was built in the 1100s. However, there might have been an even older church on this spot. This earlier church could have been built by the Saxons, who lived in England many centuries ago.
Some parts of the church have been rebuilt over the years. For example, the chancel, which is the area around the altar, was rebuilt in the 1460s. More changes were made in the 1830s. A big repair and update project happened in 1889. This was part of a "Victorian restoration" and was led by Sidney Gambier-Parry.
The church is part of a group of churches called the Churn Valley benefice. This group is within the Diocese of Gloucester, which is a larger area managed by the church.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Margaret is made from limestone, a type of rock. It has several main parts. These include the nave, which is the main area where people sit. There is also a north aisle, which is a passage along the side of the nave. The vestry is a room used by the clergy, and the chancel is the part of the church near the altar.
The church also has a tall tower on its west side. This tower has three levels and is supported by strong diagonal buttresses. These are structures that help hold the walls up. Inside the tower, there are five bells.
Inside the church, you can see many interesting things. There is a font from the 11th century, which is a large basin used for baptisms. You can also find old memorials and tombs from different centuries. In the south wall of the sanctuary, which is the holiest part of the church, there is an aumbrey. This is a small cupboard used to store sacred items.
The church has some small pieces of beautiful stained glass from the 1400s. The window on the north-west side has special stained glass made by an artist named Charles Eamer Kempe.
