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 historic Christian church located in Kilmersdon, Somerset, England. Its history goes all the way back to the Norman times, which was a long time ago, starting around the year 1066! Most of the church you see today was built in the 1400s and 1500s. It was also repaired and updated during the Victorian era (from 1837 to 1901). This church is a very special place and is known as a Grade I listed building, meaning it's one of the most important historical buildings in England.
Contents
The Church Tower: A Look Up
The church has a tall tower that was built around the year 1443. This tower has four main sections, one on top of the other. It has strong supports called buttresses at its corners, which help hold it up. These buttresses also have pointy decorations on top called pinnacles.
Bells and Windows
Inside the tower, there are six large bells. The heaviest bell is super heavy, weighing about 2,352 pounds (that's 21 hundredweight!). The tower also has special windows for the bells. These windows have three lights (sections) and cool patterns that look like four-leaf clovers, called quatrefoils. Below these, there are two-light windows that are now just blank. You can also see empty spaces where statues used to be, but they are gone now.
Churchyard Features
The area around the church, called the churchyard, has some interesting things to see.
The Lychgate
There's a special gate at the entrance called a lychgate. It has a triangular roof and was designed by a famous architect named Sir Edwin Lutyens. Lychgates were traditionally used as a place to rest coffins before a funeral service.
Historic Tombs
Many of the old tombs and gravestones in the churchyard are also considered important historical structures. They are listed buildings, just like the church itself.
Challenges and Repairs
In 2013, the church was added to a list called the Heritage at Risk Register. This meant it needed important repairs, especially to its roof and tower.
The Falling Bell Incident
In November 2013, something surprising happened: one of the bells in the tower actually fell! It crashed through two floors but luckily stopped on some wooden beams just above where the bellringers stand. No one was hurt, which was a great relief!
Church Community
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is part of a larger group of churches called a benefice. It works together with the church in Babington. Both churches are part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a big area managed by the Church of England.
Gallery
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The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Kilmersdon
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The Lych Gate and walls on the north side of the church
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A group of monuments in the churchyard near the main part of the church
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Another view of monuments in the churchyard, next to the nave
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The Thomas Jolliffe Monument in the churchyard
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
