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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Charlton Horethorne facts for kids

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Church of St Peter and St Paul
The Church of St Peter and St Paul, Charlton Horethorne (geograph 1697935).jpg
Location Charlton Horethorne, Somerset, England
Built 12th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Peter and St Paul
Designated 24 March 1961
Reference no. 1056366
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The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a special old church in Charlton Horethorne, a village in Somerset, England. It was first built way back in the 1100s! This church is so important that it's officially protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a really old and significant building that needs to be preserved.

A Look Back: The Church's Story

The Church of St Peter and St Paul was built in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! Over the centuries, people have made changes to it.

Victorian Changes

One big change happened in the 1800s, during the Victorian era. This was called a "Victorian restoration." During this time, a musical organ was put into the church. Also, a special gate called a lych gate was built in the churchyard. A lych gate is a covered gateway at the entrance to a churchyard. It was traditionally a place where a coffin could rest before a burial service.

Church Community

This church is part of a larger group of churches. It works together with churches in nearby villages like Milborne Port, Goathill, Milborne Wick, and Stowell. All these churches belong to the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a large area managed by the Church of England.

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Peter and St Paul is made of stone and has roofs covered with stone tiles. It has a main open area called a nave and a smaller area near the altar called a chancel. On the sides, there are walkways known as aisles. There's also a porch on the south side where people enter.

The Tower and Bells

At the west end of the church, there's a tall tower. This tower has strong supports called buttresses on its corners. Inside the tower, there are eight bells! The oldest of these bells were made around the year 1350. Imagine how many times those bells have rung over the centuries!

Inside the Church

Many of the things you see inside the church, like the furniture and decorations, are from the 1700s and 1800s. However, there are also tiny pieces of beautiful stained glass that are much older, from around 1450.

Ancient Discovery

Something very interesting was found in the churchyard: an ancient altar from the 4th century! This altar was made by the Romano-British people, who lived in Britain when the Romans were in charge. This old altar is now kept inside the church.

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