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 Saintbury, a village in Gloucestershire, England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s! It's so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's a special historic place.
Contents
Church History: A Look Back
The Church of St Nicholas has a long and interesting past. Parts of the building you see today, like the main hall (called the nave), a side section (the north transept), and the tower, were built in the 1200s.
Older Parts of the Church
Some parts of the church are even older! The south door, for example, shows signs of Norman architecture. This means it was built by the Normans, who came to England in 1066. Above the north door, there's a circular Anglo-Saxon tide dial. This was like an ancient clock that told time based on the tides. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was added in the 1300s.
Recent Times for the Church
The last church service held here was in 2009. Since then, the church has been looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to protect old churches that are no longer used regularly. Sadly, in 2017, the lead from the roof was stolen.
Church Design and Art
The Church of St Nicholas is made from limestone and has stone slate roofs. It includes the main hall (nave), a north side section (transept), a porch, the chancel, and a tower. The tall, pointed top of the tower, called a spire, can be seen from far away on the Cotswold escarpment.
Unique Stone Carving
On one of the church walls, there is a stone carving that some people believe is a Sheela na gig. These are old carvings, often found on churches, that show a female figure.
Inside the Church: Art and Features
Inside, you can see special box pews, which are like enclosed seats. There are also wall paintings that tell stories. In the early 1900s, some beautiful Arts and Crafts features were added by artists like Ernest Gimson, Alec Miller, and Charles Robert Ashbee.
The octagonal font, where baptisms take place, and the altar rails are very old, dating back to the 1400s or 1500s. There's also a double piscina, which is a basin used for washing sacred vessels. This is thought to be from the time of King Edward I, who ruled in the late 1200s. The wall paintings that show parts of the King James Bible were created in 1634.
See also
