Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Clapham, Bedfordshire facts for kids
The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury is a very old and special church in Clapham, Bedfordshire, England. People also call it Clapham Parish Church or Thomas à Becket. It's so important that it's a 'Grade I listed building', which means it's one of the most historic places in the country. It officially became a listed building on July 13, 1964.
This church has a really long history, going back even before the year 1000! It's named after Thomas Becket, who was a famous saint.
What Makes the Church Special?
The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury is built in a very old style called Anglo-Saxon. This means it might have been built in the early 900s! You can see this in its narrow windows, which have rounded tops. The very top part of the church tower is from a slightly later time, called Early Norman. The wall at the very top of the building, called the parapet, was added in the 1600s.
Inside the Church
Most of the church was rebuilt in 1861 by a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott. When you go inside, you'll find a main area called the nave. At the front, there's a special part called the chancel, and on the sides, there are two long walkways known as aisles.
The Tall Tower
The church has a tall tower that was built a long, long time ago, either in the 1000s or 1100s. This tower stands about 26 meters (which is about 85 feet) high! It's amazing to think how old this part of the church is.
