Church of St Peter, Little Barrington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 26 January 1961 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Barrington |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Peter is an old church located in a small village called Little Barrington, in Gloucestershire, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the late 1100s! This church is so special that it's officially protected as a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered very important historically and architecturally. It belongs to the Church of England.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The Church's History
The Church of St Peter was first built in the late 12th century, around the 1100s. Over the years, parts of it were changed and updated. For example, the main part of the church, called the nave, was mostly rebuilt in the 14th century (the 1300s). More work was done in the 15th century (the 1400s) to keep it in good shape.
For a long time, this church was connected to a larger church in a nearby village called Great Barrington. Both churches eventually became the property of Llanthony Priory, which was a type of monastery. Today, the church is part of the Windrush benefice, which is a group of local churches working together within the Diocese of Gloucester.
Exploring the Church's Design: Architecture
The Church of St Peter is made from limestone, a type of rock, and has a roof covered with stone tiles. It has a main area called the nave, which has a special "wagon roof" that looks like the inside of a covered wagon. The walls are supported by strong diagonal buttresses.
The church also has a south porch, a north aisle (a side section), and a chancel (the area near the altar). At the west end, there's a tall, three-part tower. The oldest bell in this tower was made in 1638! You can also see a small bell tower, called a sanctus bellcote, above the arch leading into the chancel.
Special Doorway and Carvings
One of the most interesting parts of the church is its south doorway. It's built in the Norman style, which was popular when the church was first built. This doorway has three levels of detailed carvings, including zigzag patterns called "chevron" and tooth-like shapes called "dogtooth." In 1865, this doorway was carefully taken apart, cleaned, and put back together.
Above the doorway, there used to be a carved stone panel called a tympanum. This panel, which is now displayed on the north wall, shows a carving of Christ with winged angels on either side. It's a beautiful piece of old art!
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find several interesting features. A large memorial dedicated to the Tayler family covers much of the east wall. It has a plaque with writing and carved figures on each side. There are also other memorials throughout the church.
In the nave, you can see wall paintings from 1736. These paintings give us a glimpse into what the church looked like hundreds of years ago. The font, which is a large basin used for baptisms, dates back to the 15th century.
