Church of St Mary, Compton Pauncefoot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| Location | Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, England |
| Built | 15th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St Mary | |
| Designated | 24 March 1961 |
| Reference no. | 1248577 |
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The Anglican Church of St Mary is a very old church located in Compton Pauncefoot, a village in Somerset, England. It was built way back in the 15th century, which means it's over 500 years old! This church is also a special "Grade II* listed building". This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected because of its special architecture and history.
History of the Church
The Church of St Mary was built in the late 1400s. A person named Sir Walter Pauncefoot left money in his will to help build it. This shows how important churches were to communities long ago.
Later, in the 1800s, the church had a big makeover called a Victorian restoration. During this time, a new part called the north aisle was added. An aisle is like a walkway in a church.
The church is part of a group of churches called the Camelot Parishes. These churches work together within the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a larger church area.
Church Architecture and Features
The Church of St Mary is made of stone, with special decorative stone called hamstone around its windows and doors. The roofs are made of stone slates.
The church has a main area called the nave, which has two sections. It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is. There are also north and south aisles, which are the side sections.
At the west end of the church, there is a tall tower with two levels. This tower is supported by strong corner buttresses, which are like stone supports. On top of the tower, there is an eight-sided spire that points towards the sky.
Most of the things inside the church, like the beautiful stained glass windows, were added in the 1800s. Some of the stained glass was made by famous artists like Charles Eamer Kempe and Jean-Baptiste Capronnier. These windows were carefully fixed by Holywell Glass Ltd.
Even though many things are from the 1800s, the church still has some older memorials from the 1500s. These are like special plaques that remember people from a long time ago.
Outside the church, there is a special gate called a lychgate. This lychgate is a memorial to the people from the village who lost their lives in the two World Wars. It's a way to remember their bravery and sacrifice.
