Church of St Nicholas, Withycombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Withycombe |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°09′51″N 3°24′36″W / 51.1642°N 3.4100°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Nicholas is a very old and special church located in Withycombe, a village in Somerset, England. It was built way back in the 1200s! This church is so important that English Heritage has given it a special title: a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England and needs to be protected.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Church of St Nicholas has a long and interesting past, with different parts added and changed over many centuries.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The main tower of the church was built in the 1300s. However, some of the stone walls on the north side are even older, dating back to the 1100s! These older stones were part of an earlier building that stood here before the current church.
In the 1400s, the main part of the church, called the nave, got new windows. This would have made the inside much brighter.
Repairs and Updates Through the Years
The church tower needed repairs in the early 1800s. Around that time, a special seating area called a gallery was also moved inside the church.
More big changes happened in the 1850s. This was part of a time known as the Victorian restoration, when many old churches were updated. During this time, oil lamps were put in to light the church.
Later, between 1912 and 1913, the church was repaired again and got a new roof. Then, from 1934 to 1936, the vestry (a room used by the clergy) was made bigger, and the gallery at the west end of the church was taken out.
The Mystery of the Hidden Figure
Inside one of the church walls, there's a hidden recess. In this secret spot, you can find a carving of an unknown man. He has long hair and is wearing a hat. This is quite special because it's one of the earliest church monuments that shows someone wearing a hat!
The figure is also holding a heart-shaped case. This is a clue that tells us something sad and interesting about him. It means he died somewhere else, far away from Withycombe. Only his heart was brought back to the church to be buried there.
The Church Community
The Church of St Nicholas is part of a larger group of churches called a benefice. This group includes churches from nearby villages like Dunster, Carhampton, Roduish, Timberscombe, and Wootton Courtenay. They all work together within the Exmoor deanery, which is a local area for churches.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
