Church of St Mary, Chesterblade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| Location | Chesterblade, Somerset, England |
| Built | 12th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St Mary | |
| Designated | 2 June 1961 |
| Reference no. | 1222368 |
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The Church of St Mary is an old Christian church in Chesterblade, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 12th century! This church is a special "Grade II* listed building." This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. You can find it about three miles northeast of Evercreech and three miles southeast of Shepton Mallet.
History of St Mary's Church
This church was first built in the 1100s. Over the years, it was changed and updated many times. Big changes happened in the 13th and 15th centuries. Later, in 1888, the church had a major "Victorian restoration." This means people in the Victorian era fixed it up and added new parts.
The Church of St Mary is part of the larger Evercreech parish. A parish is like a local church community.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Mary has a classic church design. It has a main area called the nave. This is where people sit during services. There's also a south porch, which is like an entrance area. At the front of the church is the chancel. This is the part where the altar is, usually reserved for the clergy.
Special Features of the Church
- Bellcote: Look up above the nave! You'll see a small tower called a bellcote. This is where the church bell is kept.
- King Post Roof: The roof inside the church has a special design called a king post roof. This is a type of strong wooden roof structure.
- Jacobean Panelling: Inside the chancel, you can see some old wooden panels. These panels are from the Jacobean period, which was in the early 1600s.
- Stone Pulpit: The church has a stone pulpit from the 15th century. This is a raised platform where the priest gives sermons.
- Norman Font: The font is where baptisms take place. This church has a very old font from the Norman period. This means it's from around the 11th or 12th century!
- Victorian Tiles: The Norman font stands on special tiles from the Victorian era. These are called encaustic tiles, which are decorative tiles with patterns. The font itself is about 0.89 meters (or about 3 feet) tall.
