Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Bygrave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Margaret of Antioch |
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Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Bygrave
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| 52°00′33″N 0°09′24″W / 52.00919°N 0.15678°W | |
| Location | Bygrave, Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Margaret of Antioch |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1968 |
| Years built | 12th to 15th century |
| Specifications | |
| Nave width | 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 m) |
| Materials | Clunch, brick, flint |
The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is a historic church in the village of Bygrave, Hertfordshire, England. It is an Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. The church is named after Saint Margaret of Antioch. It has been a very important building, listed as Grade II* since 1968, which means it's a particularly important building of more than special interest.
Contents
A Glimpse into History
The land where the church stands has been important for a very long time. People lived here even before the church was built. During digs in 1993, experts found Romano-British pottery, which shows that people were here many centuries before the current church. Some parts of the church, like bricks in the east angles of the nave, might even be from Roman times!
The church itself was built over many years. The oldest part is the nave (the main part where people sit), which dates back to the 12th century. Later, in the 14th century, the chancel (the area around the altar) was added. The west turret, a small tower, was built in the 15th century. Over time, windows were changed, and a special staircase for the rood screen was built.
What is it Made Of?
The walls of the church are made from a type of soft limestone called clunch, mixed with brick and flint stones. They are also covered in plaster. Inside, the chancel is about 25 feet long, and the nave is about 31 feet long. There's also a small south porch.
Inside the Church
The Church of St Margaret of Antioch has many interesting features from different time periods.
Ancient Carvings and Paintings
Look closely at the frames of the chancel windows, and you might spot carvings of an old game called nine men's morris. This shows how people used to spend their time centuries ago! There are also small pieces of wall paintings on the west and north chancel walls that are from the 14th century.
The church has windows in the north, south, and west walls of the nave. These windows have two "cinquefoiled lights," which means they have a decorative pattern at the top. The glass in these windows is modern, including a special stained glass "Millennium Window" from 2001.
Doors and Bells
The north doorway of the church is now blocked up. The south doorway is from the 12th century, but it has been repaired quite a bit over the years. The south porch, which is the entrance area, was added later in the 18th century.
There's a small, semi-octagonal turret (a small tower) on the west wall. This turret gives access to the church bell, which was made in 1718.
Special Furniture
- Font: The baptismal font is where babies are baptised. This one is octagonal (eight-sided) and dates back to the 15th century. It has carvings of symbols related to the Passion of Christ (events leading to Jesus's crucifixion). Around the stem of the font, you can see angels holding shields. The wooden cover for the font is from around the 18th century.
- Rood Screen: The rood screen is a decorative wooden screen that used to separate the nave from the chancel. This one is from the 15th century. It has a carving of the Royal Arms (the symbol of the King or Queen) from the late 17th century.
- Altar and Rails: The altar (the table where communion is served) and the communion rails are from the 17th century.
- Seating: Some of the wooden benches have special carvings called "poppy heads" from the 15th century. There are also some older, plain seats.
- Pulpit: The pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) is mostly Victorian, but it includes older panels from the 15th century. It even has a 17th-century wrought-iron stand that used to hold an hour-glass!
Outside the Church
By the west wall of the churchyard, you can see an old stone coffin without a lid. It's a reminder of how old this site is.
Notable People
One famous person who used to be the rector (the main priest) here was George Coke. He later became the Bishop of Hereford, which is a very important position in the church.
Visiting the Church
The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is usually open on weekends. If you want to visit, you can get the key from the churchwardens, who help look after the church.
