Church of St Peter and St Paul, Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter and St Paul |
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Viewed from the south-east
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| 52°20′16.4″N 2°23′43.5″W / 52.337889°N 2.395417°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO 732 712 |
| Location | Rock, Worcestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 25 February 1958 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Rock with Heightington |
| Diocese | Diocese of Worcester |
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is an Anglican church located in the village of Rock in Worcestershire, England. It's part of the Diocese of Worcester. This church is a very important historical building, given a special 'Grade I listed' status. Its old north door and a beautiful arch inside, called the chancel arch, are from the 12th century, making them very old and special!
Contents
Church History and Design
The oldest parts of the church were built in the 12th century. These include the main open area, called the nave, and the front part near the altar, known as the chancel. The church's north wall is still mostly in its original condition from that time.
Amazing 12th-Century Features
The north door has a special Norman arch. This arch has four layers of decoration. It's covered in cool zigzag patterns, called chevron patterns, and other designs that look like tiny castles.
The chancel arch, also from the 12th century, is very fancy. It has three layers of decoration on the side facing the nave and two layers on the chancel side. You can see more chevron patterns here. The top parts of the columns, called capitals, and the flat blocks above them, called abaci, are decorated with funny or strange figures and leaf designs.
The font, which is a large bowl used for baptisms, is also from the 12th century. It has a round shape and is decorated with a pattern that looks like woven straps. At the back of the nave, there's an old wooden chest. It's made from a hollowed-out log and has nails all over it. This chest is probably from the 13th century.
Changes in the 14th Century
In the 14th century, the chancel was made longer. A small room, called a vestry, was added on the north side. This room is now used as a heating room. The roofs of both the chancel and the nave were built around this time. They have open wooden beams, which is a common style for roofs from the 14th century.
Building in the 16th Century and Later
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In 1510, a man named Sir Humphrey Coningsby helped build more parts of the church. He added the south chapel, the south aisle (a walkway along the side), and the tower. The tower has three levels and strong supports called buttresses. The top of the tower has battlements, which look like the top of a castle wall. Inside the south chapel, there's an old stone altar slab from the Middle Ages.
The church was repaired and updated in 1861 by an architect named Frederick Preedy. The tower also got some repairs in 1881.
See also
