Church of St Peter and St Paul, Kilmersdon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter and St Paul |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Kilmersdon |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°16′13″N 2°26′13″W / 51.2702°N 2.437°W |
| Completed | 16th century |
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a very old church in Kilmersdon, Somerset, England. It was first built a long, long time ago during the Norman period. Most of what you see today was built in the 1400s and 1500s. Later, it was fixed up during the Victorian era. This church is a special "Grade I listed building," which means it's a very important historical building in England.
Contents
About the Church of St Peter and St Paul
The Church of St Peter and St Paul has stood in Kilmersdon for many centuries. It is a place where people have gathered for worship and community events for hundreds of years. Its long history makes it an important part of the local area.
The Church Tower
The church has a tall tower that was built around the year 1443. This tower has four main sections. It has strong supports called buttresses at the corners. These supports help the tower stand tall and strong. At the very top of the buttresses, there are small, pointed decorations called pinnacles.
The tower also has windows for the bells. These are called bell-chamber windows. They have three lights, meaning three openings, with fancy stone patterns called "traceried" designs. You can also see a dense pattern of four-leaf shapes, known as a quatrefoil, in the stone work. There were once statues in special spots on the tower, but they are not there anymore. The tower holds six bells, with the heaviest one weighing about 21 hundredweight (which is about 1,067 kilograms!).
Special Features Outside
In the churchyard, you'll find a special gate called a lychgate. This gate has a triangular roof and was designed by a famous architect named Sir Edwin Lutyens. A lychgate was traditionally where a coffin would rest before a funeral service.
You can also see several old chest tombs and headstones in the churchyard. Some of these are also protected as listed buildings because of their historical importance.
Keeping the Church Safe
Because the church is so old, it sometimes needs repairs. In 2013, the Church of St Peter and St Paul was added to the Heritage at Risk Register. This list helps identify important buildings that need special attention and repairs. The church needed work on its roof and tower.
In November 2013, one of the church bells moved unexpectedly. It went through two floors of the tower but thankfully stopped on some wooden beams above where the bellringers stand. This showed how important it was to get the repairs done.
The church is part of a larger church area called a benefice. This benefice includes Kilmersdon and Babington. It is all part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a larger church region.
Gallery
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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Kilmersdon
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Lych Gate, flanking walls and gates on north side of Church of St Peter and St Paul
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Group of 7 monuments in churchyard, adjacent to nave, Church of St Peter and St Paul
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Group of 7 monuments in churchyard, adjacent to nave, Church of St Peter and St Paul
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Thomas Jolliffe Monument In Churchyard, About 50 Metres South East Of Church Of St Peter And St Paul
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
