Church of St Oswald, Shipton Oliffe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Oswald
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Denomination	Church of England
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building
Designated	26 January 1961
Administration
Benefice	Coln River Group
Diocese	Gloucester
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St Oswald is an old church in a village called Shipton Oliffe, in Gloucestershire, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 12th century (the 1100s)! It's so important that it's a 'Grade I listed building'. This means it's protected because of its special history and design. The church belongs to the Church of England.

History of the Church

The oldest parts of the church were built in the Norman style. This was popular in England after the Normans arrived in 1066. Later, in the 13th century (the 1200s), the church was made bigger. A new part called the chancel (the area around the altar) and a south aisle (a side section) were added.

For a long time, the church was owned by Gloucester Abbey. This was a large and important monastery.

Between 1902 and 1904, the church was carefully repaired and updated. Some old parts, like the west gallery (a raised seating area) and box pews (pews with high sides), were removed. This work was done by an architect named H.A. Prothero.

Today, the church is part of a group of churches called the Coln River Group. This group is part of the Diocese of Gloucester, which is a larger area managed by the Church of England.

Church Architecture and Design

The Church of St Oswald is made from limestone, a type of stone, and has a roof made of stone slates. It has several main parts:

• The nave: This is the main part of the church where people sit.
• A south transept: This is a section that sticks out from the side, like the arms of a cross.
• A porch: This is the entrance area.
• The chancel: This is the part of the church where the altar is located.

There's also a small bellcote from the 13th century. This is a small tower on the roof that holds two bells.

Inside the church, you can see some interesting old features:

• A medieval font: This is an octagonal (eight-sided) stone basin used for baptisms.
• A 14th-century piscina: This is a stone basin with a drain, used for washing sacred vessels. It's found within a sedilia, which are stone seats for the clergy.
• Old wall paintings: There are small pieces of old paintings on the arch leading to the chancel and on the north wall.
• A blocked Norman doorway: On the north wall, there's an old doorway from the Norman period that has been filled in. A window has been put in its place.