Church of St Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stowey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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| Location | Stowey, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated | 21 September 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1129575 |
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The Anglican Parish Church of St Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary at Stowey in Somerset, England, is a very old church. It was built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! This church is so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's a special historic place.
People think there might have been a wooden church here even earlier. The first written record about a church on this spot is from 1235. The oldest part of the stone church you see today is the chancel. This is the eastern end where the altar is. It has a small door for the priest and a tiny carved figure above it.
The main part of the church, called the nave, was added in the 14th century. Later, in the 14th or early 15th century, a tall tower was built. This tower has strong supports called buttresses and a spiral staircase inside.
Bells and History
The church tower holds six bells. These bells are rung regularly for church services. Five of them were made by the local Bilbie family, who were famous bell makers. A sixth bell was added in 1991.
The church is right next to Stowey House. It's built from the same local red sandstone. The roof over the chancel is made of tiles, while the nave and front porch have slate roofs.
Over the years, the church has been changed and updated. In the 17th century, some parts were altered. Then, in the 19th century, it had a big makeover called a Victorian restoration. During this time, part of the roof was replaced. Some older features, like a special two-level pulpit and a gallery, were removed.
Art and Features Inside
Inside the church, you can see amazing wall paintings by an artist named Henry Strachey. He painted these in the early 1900s. On either side of the altar, there are life-sized paintings of St Nicholas and St Mary.
In the chancel, there are also paintings showing two famous Bible stories. One shows Jesus feeding a large crowd of people. The other shows his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Above the arch leading to the chancel, there's a painting of the Last Judgment. It shows an equal number of angels of light and darkness.
You can also find old stone monuments from the mid-1700s. These were made by sculptors like Thomas Paty to remember the Jones and Sandford families. The font, which is used for baptisms, is from the 14th century.
The church's organ was put in during the 1930s. In 1965, when electricity came to the church, the organ was updated to work with it. Above the entrance door, there's a special painted shield called a funerary hatchment. This was made to celebrate the return of King Charles II to the throne in 1660.
For a while, in the 16th or 17th century, Stowey church was a smaller part of a bigger church area in Chew Magna. Today, it's still part of the Chew Magna Deanery, which is a group of churches.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
