Church of St Simon and St Jude, Castlethorpe facts for kids
The Church of St Simon and St Jude is a very old church located in Castlethorpe, a village in Buckinghamshire, England. It was built in the late 1100s. This church used to be a smaller part of a larger church in Hanslope. One special thing about it is its Norman font, which is a basin used for baptisms, with cool figures carved on its corners. Because of its historical importance, it was named a Grade I listed building in 1966. This means it's considered a very important historical building.
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History of the Church
The Church of St Simon and St Jude has a long and interesting past. People used to celebrate a special day for the church on the Sunday after the festival of Saints Simon and Jude. However, in old documents, the church was sometimes called "the church of Our Lady of Castlethorpe." This shows how its name or dedication might have changed over time.
Exploring the Church's Design
The church is built on a small hill, just a bit east of where an old castle tower used to stand. You can still see the high bank of the old castle mound near the churchyard. The church has several main parts:
- The chancel: This is the area around the altar.
- The nave: This is the main part of the church where people sit.
- The north and south aisles: These are the side sections of the church.
- A tower: This is at the west end of the church.
The Church Tower
The tower was once about 71 feet (21.6 meters) tall. But in 1729, rain damaged its roof timbers, causing the tower to fall down. When it was rebuilt, it was made shorter, about 30 feet (9.1 meters) less than before. It originally had three bells, but only one was put back up. The largest bell, which weighed a lot, was sold along with the third bell to help pay for rebuilding the tower.
Roofs and Entrances
The roofs over the nave and aisles are covered with lead, which is a traditional material. However, the chancel's roof is newer and made of slate. The main way to enter the church is through the tower at the west end.
The main part of the church, the nave, has strong supports called piers and arches that separate it from the side aisles. These arches are in an "Early English" style, which is very similar to the older Norman style. On the south side, the arches are held up by an eight-sided pillar. On the north side, they rest on a large round pillar with carved leaf designs.
The south aisle has three beautiful windows with three sections each, including one at the very east end. The north aisle has two newer windows. The upper part of the nave, called the clerestory, has three windows on the south side, letting in light.
Special Features and Monuments
The church has a square pulpit made of oak, which looks like it's from the time of King James I. The seats are simple and made of deal wood. All the ceilings inside are covered with plaster.
At the east end of the north aisle, you can still see the steps that once led up to a "rood loft." This was a gallery or platform above the entrance to the chancel. On the south side of the chancel, there's a special seat called a "sedile" with two stalls under rounded arches. There's also a "piscina," which is a basin used for washing sacred vessels.
The font, used for baptisms, is very large and has eight sides. It has two carved human heads on two of its corners. The arch leading into the chancel is pointed, and the chancel itself is quite spacious.
The east window is a lovely "Decorated" style window with three sections. It's a memorial to Caroline Walpole, who passed away in 1899. Inside the area around the altar, there are three flat stone slabs dedicated to members of the Tyrrell family. On the north side, there's a grand monument for Sir Thomas Tyrrell, who died in 1671, and his wife, Bridget. This monument shows Sir Thomas dressed as a judge, resting on cushions, with his head on his wife's lap. This impressive monument was built by his widow, Dame Bridget Tyrrell. It also mentions a gift of £10 per year that was given to the poor people of Castlethorpe. There are also memorials for the Kitelee family in the church.
