Church of St Stephen, Winsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Stephen |
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| Location | Winsham, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St Stephen | |
| Designated | 4 February 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1177765 |
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The Church of St Stephen is an old church in Winsham, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s! This church is so special that it's officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's an important historic place.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
How Old Is It?
The Church of St Stephen was first built in the 1200s (the 13th century). Some of its original narrow, tall windows, called lancet windows, are still there. The church was mostly rebuilt in the 1400s. Later, in the 1800s, it had a big makeover known as a Victorian restoration, which means it was repaired and updated in the style of that time. A small room called a vestry was added in the 1920s.
Saving the Church
For a while, until 2018, the church was on a list called the Heritage at Risk Register. This meant its roofs, especially the tower's roof, were in bad shape and needed urgent repairs. Luckily, the community worked hard to fix it! On July 29, 2018, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Hancock, held a special service to celebrate that the tower and roof repairs were finished.
Special Treasures Inside
The Church of St Stephen holds some truly unique items. You can see a surviving copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs on display. This is a famous old book about Christian martyrs. Even more amazing, the church has one of only two surviving pre-Reformation tympana of the Crucifixion in the world! A tympanum here is a painted wooden screen that shows a picture of the crucifixion. The other one is in a church in Norfolk.
The church is still an active place of worship today.
What Does the Church Look Like?
Outside the Church
The church building is made of stone and has slate roofs. It has a main area called the nave and a special area for the altar called the chancel. Strong stone supports called buttresses help hold up the walls. The church has a tall, three-story tower in the middle. On the outside of the tower, you can spot gargoyles, which are carved stone figures that act as waterspouts. Inside the tower, there are eight bells that can be rung together. The oldest bell was made way back in 1583!
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see a Jacobean pulpit, which is a raised stand where sermons are given. It's from the 1600s. There's also a beautiful wooden screen from the 1400s. The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, was added in 1873 by an artist named Harry Hems. The font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like an octagon and is also from the 1400s. Don't forget to look at the painted tympanum boards from the 1400s that show the crucifixion scene.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
- Winsham Parish - St Stephen's
