Church of St Mary, Upper Swell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 25 August 1960 |
| Administration | |
| Benefice | Stow on the Wold, Condicote & The Swells |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Mary is an Anglican church located in a village called Upper Swell in Gloucestershire, England. It's a very old building, first built in the 1100s (that's the 12th century!). It's so important that it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Old is St Mary's Church?
This church was first built way back in the 1100s (the 12th century). Imagine all the history it has seen! Later, in the 1200s (the 13th century), a part called the chancel was added. The chancel is the area around the altar.
Changes Over the Years
Between the 1400s and early 1500s, the main part of the church, called the nave, was updated. The nave is where the people sit during church services.
The church is part of a larger group of churches called a benefice. This group includes churches in Stow on the Wold, Condicote, and The Swells. They all belong to the Diocese of Gloucester.
What Does the Church Look Like?
Building Materials and Shape
The Church of St Mary is built from a special type of rock called Cotswold stone. Its roof is made of stone tiles. The church has a main section (the nave) with three parts, and the chancel has two parts. There's also a small entrance area on the south side called a porch.
Bells and Special Features
On the west end of the roof, there's a small tower called a bellcote. It holds two bells.
Inside, you can find some really old items. There's a font from the 1400s, which is used for baptisms. You can also see a piscina in the chancel. A piscina is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels.
Ancient Doors and Dials
The church has a very old doorway from the Norman period. This means it was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. Above the door, there's a carved stone panel called a tympanum.
On the side of the porch door, there's a mass dial. This is like an ancient sundial that helped people know when church services were happening. The organ inside the church was built in 1872 by a company called Nicholson & Co Ltd.
