Church of St Mary Magdalene, Winterbourne Monkton facts for kids
The Church of St Mary Magdalene is an old church in Winterbourne Monkton, a village in Wiltshire, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. While it was mostly rebuilt in the 1800s, parts of it are much older, going back to the 1300s! You can find it north of Avebury.
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A Look Inside St Mary Magdalene Church
This church has a long history, starting way back in the 1100s. The first part, called the vicarage, was officially opened before the year 1229. For a long time, the church was connected to important places like Cirencester Abbey and then Avebury.
Unique Features and History
One really cool and unusual thing inside the church is found near the back. You'll see two huge tree trunks! These giant logs used to hold up the bells in a separate bell tower. Later, in the 1300s, the main part of the church (called the nave) was added, connecting the bell tower to the front part (the chancel).
The church has four bells, and three of them are very old, made in the 1600s! In 1877 and 1878, the church got a big makeover. A famous architect named William Butterfield led the work. He updated the wooden bell tower and made the roofs of the nave and chancel taller. People today still think the church looks "characterful" and well-designed thanks to his work. Because of its history and special features, the building was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building in 1958.
The Ancient Font
The church also has a very old font, which is a basin used for baptisms. This round font is from the 1100s! It's decorated with cool zigzag patterns and leaf designs. There's even a strange figure on one side with wide-apart legs. Some people think this figure might have been painted a long time ago. While it's a bit of a mystery, it adds to the church's ancient charm. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is from the 1600s.
The Church's Connections
For many years, the church in Winterbourne Monkton was linked with the church in Avebury. In 1865, it joined with Berwick Bassett instead. Then, in 1929, it was linked with Avebury again, though they remained separate parishes (church areas).
Later, in 1970, Berwick Bassett was added back into the group. Today, the parish of Winterbourne Monkton with Berwick Bassett is part of a larger church family called the Upper Kennet benefice. This group includes seven other parishes around Avebury and is part of the Diocese of Salisbury.
