Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Clapham, Bedfordshire facts for kids
The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury is a very old and important church located in the village of Clapham, England. It's also known as Clapham Parish Church or sometimes Thomas à Becket. This special building is recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's one of the most important historical buildings in the country. It got this special status on July 13, 1964.
A Church with a Long History
This church has been around for a very long time, even before the year 1000! Imagine, people were worshipping here over a thousand years ago. We don't have records of who the original patron saint was, but the church is named after Thomas Becket.
The church was first built in the Anglo-Saxon style. This style was common in England around the 10th century. You can still see parts of this ancient design, like the narrow windows with rounded tops. The upper part of the church was built a bit later, during the early Norman period. The very top edge of the church, called the parapet, was added in the 17th century.
What the Church Looks Like Today
Most of the church you see today was rebuilt in 1861. A famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott was in charge of this big project. The church has a main area called the nave, a special part for the altar called the chancel, and two side sections known as aisles.
One of the oldest and most impressive parts of the church is its tower. This tower was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. It stands very tall, reaching about 26 meters (which is over 85 feet) into the sky!
See Also
- Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire
External Links
- Official website: https://web.archive.org/web/20120426012324/http://www.claphamparishchurch.org/
