Church of St Nicholas, Saintbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 25 August 1960 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Nicholas is an old church located in a lovely village called Saintbury, which is in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century (that's the 1200s!). It's so special that it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building, meaning it's a really important historical site.
Discovering the Church's Past
The Church of St Nicholas has a long and interesting history. Some parts of the building you see today, like the main hall (called the nave), the north wing (known as the transept), and the tower, were built in the 13th century.
However, there's proof that an even older church stood here before. For example, the south door has a special design from the Norman period, which was much earlier. Above the north door, you can see an old Anglo-Saxon "tide dial," which was like an ancient sundial used to tell time. The back part of the church, called the chancel, was added in the 14th century.
The last church service held here was in 2009. Now, the church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps protect old churches that are no longer used regularly. Sadly, in 2017, the lead from the church roof was stolen.
Exploring the Church's Design
The Church of St Nicholas is made from limestone and has stone slate roofs. It includes the main hall (the nave), a north wing (the transept), a porch, the chancel, and a tall tower. The pointy top of the tower, called the spire, can be seen from far away on the Cotswold escarpment.
On one of the church walls, there's a stone carving that some people think might be a Sheela na gig. This is a type of carving found on old buildings, often showing a female figure.
Inside the church, you'll find old wooden box pews where people used to sit. There are also beautiful wall paintings. Some of these paintings and other features were added in the early 20th century by famous artists like Ernest Gimson, Alec Miller, and Charles Robert Ashbee, who were part of the Arts and Crafts movement.
The eight-sided font, used for baptisms, and the altar rails are very old, dating back to the 15th or 16th century. There's also a special double piscina, which is a basin used during church services, thought to be from the time of King Edward I. The wall paintings that show stories from the King James Bible were painted in 1634.
See also
