Church of St Mary Magdalene, Winterbourne Monkton facts for kids
The Church of St Mary Magdalene is an Anglican church located in the small village of Winterbourne Monkton. This village is found north of Avebury in Wiltshire, England. The church building you see today was mostly rebuilt in the 1800s. However, its history goes back much further, to a structure from the 1300s.
History of the Church
The very first parts of the church building were started in the 1100s. A vicarage, which is the home for the church's priest, was officially set up before the year 1229. For a long time, the church was connected to Cirencester Abbey and then to Avebury. During the Middle Ages, the church often did not have enough money to support itself.
Inside the Church Building
Inside the church, you can see something quite unusual. Near the back, there are two very large tree trunks. These trunks used to hold up the bells in a separate bell tower. This bell tower was later connected to the main part of the church, called the chancel, when the nave (the main area where people sit) was added in the 1300s.
The church has four bells. Three of these bells were made in the 1600s. In 1877 and 1878, the church was updated by an architect named William Butterfield. He worked on the wooden bell tower and made the roofs of the nave and chancel taller. People who study old buildings say that Butterfield's work made the inside of the church look very special and well-designed.
In 1958, the church building was given a special status. It was named a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Old Features and Art
The church has a round font that dates back to the 1100s. A font is a basin used for baptisms. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is from the 1600s.
The old font is decorated with a zigzag pattern and leaf designs. It also has a unique figure on its northern side. This figure has legs spread wide. Some people think the font might have been painted a long time ago. There has been some discussion about whether the figure, which has three horns or a crown, could be a type of ancient carving called a Sheela na gig. However, some of its features do not quite match that idea.
Church Community
For many years, the church in Winterbourne Monkton shared its priest with Avebury. This changed in 1865 when it joined with Berwick Bassett instead. Then, in 1929, it was once again linked with Avebury, though the two church areas remained separate.
In 1970, Berwick Bassett was added back into the group. By 1975, a "team ministry" was set up to serve the larger area. Today, the church area of Winterbourne Monkton with Berwick Bassett is part of the Upper Kennet group of churches. This group is within the Diocese of Salisbury and includes seven other churches around Avebury.
