kids encyclopedia robot

Church of St Mary Magdalene, Barwick facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Church of St Mary Magdalene
Barwick Church (St Mary Magdalene) (geograph 4040069).jpg
Location Barwick, Somerset, England
Built 13th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Mary Magdalene
Designated 19 April 1961
Reference no. 1057217
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is an old church in Barwick, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s! This church is also a special building. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's protected because of its important history and design.

History of the Church

The Church of St Mary Magdalene was first built in the 13th century, which means sometime in the 1200s. Imagine how many years it has stood there!

Many years later, in 1885, some parts of the church were fixed up. This was during a time called the Victorian era, so it's known as a "Victorian restoration". During this work, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was rebuilt.

Today, the church needs some help. The roofs of the main part of the church (the nave), the chancel, and the tower are old and need repair. Because of this, the church has been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register. This list helps protect important old buildings that need care to stop them from falling apart.

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is made from a type of stone called hamstone. It has roofs covered with clay tiles.

Inside, the church has a main area called the nave. It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is usually found. The church has a tower with two main sections.

You can find some interesting old features inside the church:

  • A piscina from the 14th century (the 1300s). A piscina is a special basin used for washing sacred items.
  • A pulpit from 1619. This is a raised stand where a speaker gives a sermon.
  • A font for baptisms. This font is round and made of hamstone. It's lined with lead and has cool rope-like designs carved into it.
kids search engine
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Barwick Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.