Church of St Margaret, Queen Charlton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Margaret |
|
|---|---|
_St_Margaret%27s_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_67838.jpg) |
|
| Location | Queen Charlton, Somerset, England |
| Built | late 12th century |
|
Listed Building – Grade II*
|
|
| Designated | 1 February 1956 |
| Reference no. | 1115380 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Church of St Margaret is an old church located in Queen Charlton, Somerset, England. It was built in the late 1100s. This church is very important, so English Heritage has given it a special status. It is called a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic place.
The church is part of the Church of England. It is located in the area of Compton Dando. However, for church matters, it belongs to the Keynsham area and the Diocese of Bath & Wells. A diocese is like a church district.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Church of St Margaret was once connected to Keynsham Abbey. An abbey is a large monastery where monks or nuns live. Around the year 1200, the church also had its own group of church buildings nearby.
Changes Over Time
The church building has been changed and fixed up many times over the centuries. It was updated in the 1200s. Then, it was restored and made new again in the 1400s.
Originally, the church had a special shape. It was built like a cross, which is called "cruciform." Imagine a cross laid flat on the ground. Today, only one part of this cross shape remains. This part is called the north transept, which is like one of the "arms" of the cross.
Amazing Architecture
The church has a tall tower in the middle. This tower has two main sections. Strong supports called buttresses help hold it up. These buttresses are placed diagonally, like strong braces.
Tower Details
The top of the tower has a special wall called a parapet. This parapet has decorative openings, like small arches, all around it. These are called arcading. You can also see pointy decorations called pinnacles and stone carvings of strange creatures called gargoyles. These gargoyles were often used to drain rainwater away from the building.
On the northeast side of the tower, there is a stair tower. It has many sides, making it "polygonal." Inside, under the main tower, there are four large arches. These arches are supported by pillars that are built in the old Norman style. Norman architecture was popular in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The Village Cross
Right in front of the Church of St Margaret, on the village green, stands an old cross. This cross was built in the late Middle Ages. It wasn't always in its current spot. It used to be further east. However, it was moved to its present location during the celebrations for the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. A jubilee is a special anniversary, often celebrating a long reign.
