Church of St Peter and St Paul, Shepton Mallet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter and St Paul |
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| 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, a town in Somerset, England. This beautiful building has been around since the 12th century. It is so special that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England and is carefully protected.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Church of St Peter and St Paul has a long history. People believe there was a church on this very spot even before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Norman Conquest was when William the Conqueror and his army from Normandy, France, took control of England.
Ancient Parts of the Church
Some parts of the church today are incredibly old. For example, the font, which is a large basin used for baptisms, might be from before 1066. The walls around the chancel arch are also very ancient. These pieces give us a peek into the church's earliest days.
Building the Church We See Today
Most of the church building you see now was built in the 15th century. That's over 500 years ago! Later, in 1836 and 1837, some parts were changed. Original chapels, aisles, and transepts were taken down to make the church bigger.
Amazing Roof and Pulpit
One of the most amazing features inside the church is its timber roof. It has 350 different panels, each with its own unique design. Along the sides, there are 36 carved angels. A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner once said it was "the finest 15th-century carved oak wagon-roof in England." Imagine how much work went into creating that! The stone pulpit, where sermons are given, was made around 1550 and has six detailed carvings.
The Tall Tower
The church also has a tall, four-part tower. It was built around 1423. The tower has four pointed decorations called pinnacles at the top. It also has a special pattern along the edge and a triple window design. There's even a small stair turret for climbing up. The builders originally planned to add a tall, pointed spire on top, but it was never built.
The Millennium Window
A more modern addition to the church is the Millennium Window. This beautiful stained glass window was created in the year 2000. It was designed, built, and put in place by a local artist named John Yeo.
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
