Church of St Peter and St Paul, Shepton Mallet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter and St Paul |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Shepton Mallet |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°11′28″N 2°32′45″W / 51.1910°N 2.5457°W |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a very old and important church located in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. It has been around since the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Because it's so special and historic, it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
People think there was a church here even before the Normans came to England in 1066. The old stone font, used for baptisms, might be from that very early time. Only a few parts of the original church walls remain today.
Contents
Discovering the Church of St Peter and St Paul
Most of the church you see today was built in the 15th century. That's over 500 years ago! Some parts were made bigger between 1836 and 1837. This included adding to the chapels, aisles, and transepts.
A Look Inside: The Amazing Roof
One of the most amazing parts of the church is its wooden roof. It has 350 different panels, each with its own design. Along the sides, there are 36 carved angels. A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner said it was "the finest 15th century carved oak wagon-roof in England." This means it's one of the best old wooden roofs in the whole country! The stone pulpit, where sermons are given, was made around 1550. It has six beautiful carved pictures.
The Church Tower
The tall tower of the church was built around 1423. It has four main sections and four pointed decorations called pinnacles at the top. There's also a special pattern around the top edge. The tower was meant to have a tall, pointed spire, but it was never built.
The Millennium Window
In the year 2000, a new stained glass window was added to the church. It's called the Millennium Window. A local artist named John Yeo designed, made, and put the window in place.
