Church of St Thomas, Thurlbear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Thomas |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Thurlbear, Orchard Portman |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°59′21″N 3°04′44″W / 50.9893°N 3.0788°W |
| Completed | 12th century |
The Church of St Thomas is a very old church located in the small village of Thurlbear, which is part of Orchard Portman in Somerset, England. It was built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 900 years old! This church is so important that it's been given a special status as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Even though it's a church, it's now a redundant church, which means it's no longer used for regular church services. Instead, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This special group takes care of old churches that are no longer in use, making sure they are preserved for the future. The Church of St Thomas officially became part of the Trust's care on November 1, 1988.
A Look Back in Time: The Church's History
The Church of St Thomas clearly shows signs of its original Norman style. This was a popular way of building in England after the Normans arrived in 1066. A famous expert on buildings, Nikolaus Pevsner, studied the church. He pointed out its Norman arches and narrow side areas, called aisles. These features were typical of buildings from that time.
Pevsner believed the church was built very early in the 12th century, probably around the year 1110. He noted that the church's design was never changed much later on. This means it still looks a lot like it did when it was first built hundreds of years ago.
Keeping the Church Safe: Conservation Efforts
Because the Church of St Thomas is so old and important, it needs special care to keep it in good condition. The Churches Conservation Trust started a project to repair parts of the church.
As part of these repairs, the Somerset County Council also helped out. They did an archaeological recording and survey. This means they carefully studied the church and its surroundings. They recorded details about how it was built and any hidden history it might hold. This work helps experts understand the church better and plan for its future care.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Taunton Deane
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South West England
