Our Lady and St Anne's Church, Widemouth Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady & St Anne's |
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Interior in 2004
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| 50°47′24″N 4°33′05″W / 50.789993°N 4.551509°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholicism |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | chapel of ease |
| Completed | 1929 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 22 |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Materials | timber, asbestos |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Poundstock |
| Deanery | Stratton |
| Diocese | Truro |
The Church of Our Lady and St Anne is a small and special church located in Widemouth Bay, a village in Cornwall, England. It belongs to the Church of England, which is a Christian church. This church is known for its interesting history and small size.
Contents
A Church with a Story
The Church of Our Lady and St Anne was built in 1929. It started as a private place for prayer, called an oratory, and was first located at the other end of the village. Even though it's not very old, there are two different ideas about who it was built for.
Who Built It?
One idea is that the church was built for three priests: Claude, Reginald, and Frank Kingdom. Their family were important landowners in nearby areas like Whitstone and Poundstock. The brothers used the church as a quiet place each summer to write their sermons.
The other idea is that two women, Miss Kirby and Miss Topham, built the church. They then allowed the three Kingdom brothers to use it every year for their summer retreats. Both stories show that the church was a peaceful spot for reflection and work.
Moving to a New Home
In the 1930s, Widemouth Bay became a popular seaside resort, and more people started living there. Because of this growth, the church was moved in 1940 to where it stands today. The vicar (a type of priest) from Poundstock helped find this new spot.
Our Lady and St Anne's then became a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church that helped people who lived far from the main church in Poundstock. It made it much easier for the growing community to attend church services.
Special Features of the Church
The Church of Our Lady and St Anne has a lovely garden around it. However, you won't find any gravestones there. It's a peaceful green space for visitors and the community.
The Community Summerhouse
In 2006, the church's members built a timber summerhouse in the garden. This building is used as a meeting place for the community. It shows how the church is not just a place of worship but also a center for local activities.
A Tiny Church
Because of its small size, the Church of Our Lady and St Anne was featured in a book called Tiny Churches by Dixe Wills. This book, published in 2016, highlights small and unique churches across the country. It's quite special for such a modest church to be included!
