Church of St Peter, Ilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter
Location	Ilton, Somerset, England
Built	14th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Peter
Designated	4 February 1958
Reference no.	1057052
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The Church of St Peter is an old church located in Ilton, a village in Somerset, England. It was mostly built in the 14th century, which means the 1300s. However, it also has parts from even older churches, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries (the 1100s and 1200s). This church is very important, so it is protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a special historic building.

History of St Peter's Church

Building the Church Through the Centuries

The main part of the Church of St Peter was built in the 14th century. But it actually includes pieces from churches that stood there even earlier. Some parts of the building are from the 12th and 13th centuries. The very first church on this spot was built a very long time ago, around the year 800.

Victorian Changes to the Church

In 1860, the church had a big makeover. This was during the Victorian era, a time when many old churches were repaired and updated. A person named James Mountford Allen led this work. During this time, a new chapel was added to the church. The chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is, was also rebuilt. An old, damaged spire on the tower was taken down. The top part of the church tower was also built higher.

The Church Today

Today, the Church of St Peter is part of a group of churches called the Isle Valley benefice. This group is part of the larger Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is how the Church of England organizes its churches in that area.

Architecture and Design

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Peter is made of stone. It has special decorative stones called hamstone dressings. The roof is made of slate. The church building has several main parts:

• A nave with three sections. The nave is the main part where people sit.
• A chancel with two sections. This is the area near the altar.
• A north aisle with three sections. An aisle is a walkway along the side.
• A chapel.
• A south transept. A transept is a part that sticks out from the main building, making the church look like a cross.

The Church Tower

The church has a two-stage tower. This tower is supported by strong corner buttresses. These are stone supports that help hold the walls up. On the tower, there is an arched doorway. Next to a window, you can see a sundial. A sundial is an old way to tell time using the sun's shadow. Inside the tower, there are six bells. These bells were rehung, or put back in place, in 1963 so they could ring clearly.

Inside the Church

When you go inside the church, you can see many interesting things. There is a piscina, which is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels. There is also a pulpit from the 17th century. This is where the priest gives sermons. You can also find memorials inside the church. Some of these memorials are very old, dating back to the 15th century.

Wadham Family Memorials

Among the memorials are some for the Wadham family. One special memorial is a brass effigy of Nicholas Wadham. An effigy is a statue or image of a person. Nicholas Wadham was a baby who died in 1508. His mother was Margaret Seymour, who was the aunt of Queen Jane Seymour. His father was Sir Nicholas Wadham (died 1542).

See also

• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells