Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore
Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore, from the southeast
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OS grid reference	SU 706 308
Location	Colemore, Hampshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	16 March 1952
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic
Specifications
Length	60 feet (18 m)
Width	15 feet (5 m)
Materials	Rendered rubble and flint Sandstone dressings Tiled roof

The Church of St Peter ad Vincula is a very old Anglican church in the small village of Colemore, Hampshire, England. It's called a "redundant church" because it's not used for regular church services anymore. However, it's looked after by a special group called the Churches Conservation Trust. This church is considered a very important historical building, listed as Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England. Colemore is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Alton.

History of the Church

How Old is the Church?

The village of Colemore is mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England made in 1086. There has been a church on this spot since the 10th century, which is over 1000 years ago! The church building you see today was mostly built in the 12th century.

Repairs and Changes Over Time

Being so old, the church has needed a lot of repairs over the centuries.

• By 1308, the church was in a "ruinous" (falling apart) condition, and the local bishop ordered it to be fixed.
• It was fixed, but by 1463, it was in bad shape again! More repairs were done by July 1464.
• In 1612, it needed fixing once more. A new roof was added, and a small tower for bells, called a bellcote, was built.
• At that time, the church was shaped like a cross (called a "cruciform plan"). But in 1669, people thought the inside was too dark. They asked the bishop if they could remove the south "transept" (one of the arms of the cross shape) because it was old and unused. The bishop agreed, and that part of the church was taken down the next year.

Later Improvements and Its New Purpose

• By 1845, the church was in poor condition again. An architect named Owen Carter from Winchester helped repair and improve it. He added new windows, paved the main area (the nave), and replaced the seats.
• In 1866, the bellcote was shaky, so it was replaced with a new one that had a small spire.
• More repairs happened in the 1870s.
• In the 20th century, the church became rundown again. It was officially declared "redundant" on November 17, 1972. This means it was no longer needed for regular services.
• Since September 6, 1974, the Churches Conservation Trust has looked after the church. They have done more repairs to keep it safe. Even though it's not a regular parish church, it is still a holy place, and special services are held there sometimes.

Church Architecture

Floor Plan of the church

Outside the Church

The church has a main hall called the nave, a small entrance area called a south porch, and a side section called a north transept. It also has a chancel (the area near the altar) and a bellcote at the west end.

• The walls of the nave are made of rubble (rough stones) covered in stucco (a type of plaster). The chancel and the buttresses (supports for the walls) are made of flint (a hard stone).
• The stone parts, like around the windows, are made of sandstone. The roofs are covered with tiles.
• The bellcote is covered with wooden shingles and has a pointed roof called a broach spire.
• Some windows in the nave are from the 14th century, and one in the north wall is a very old 12th-century "lancet window" (a tall, narrow window).
• The transept has a 12th-century doorway and windows from the 11th and 12th centuries.
• In the chancel, there's a Norman (11th-12th century style) window and a newer one from 1845. The big window at the east end has three sections and was put in during the 15th century, then changed in the 19th century.

Inside the Church

• The arch leading into the transept is in the old Norman style.
• Between the nave and the chancel, there's a wooden screen from the 16th century.
• In the transept, you can find a piscina (a small basin for washing holy vessels) and a squint (a small opening that lets you see the altar). There are also remains of a staircase that once led to a "rood" (a large cross or crucifix).
• Another piscina is in the chancel.
• In the north wall of the chancel, there's a special alcove that used to hold an Easter Sepulchre (a place to put the cross during Easter).
• The floor of the chancel has stone slabs remembering old church leaders. Two chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
• The font (where baptisms happen) is from the 12th century. It's made of Purbeck marble and has a square bowl on a central pillar and smaller corner pillars. The central pillar has carvings of arches, scallops, and interlocking patterns.
• The wooden lectern (a stand for reading) was made in 1874.
• The beautiful stained glass in the east window was made by an artist named Charles Eamer Kempe. It shows Saint Peter in chains, the Resurrection (Jesus coming back to life), and Saint John.
• Two bells hang from the bellcote. One was made around 1380, and the other in 1627.
• You can also see memorials on the walls from 1692, 1748, and 1814, remembering people from the past.

See also

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England