St. Swithun's, Nately Scures facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nately Scures Parish Church |
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![]() St Swithun Nately Scures
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Denomination | Church of England |
Churchmanship | Broad church |
History | |
Dedication | St Swithun |
Architecture | |
Style | Norman |
Administration | |
Parish | Anglican United Parish |
Diocese | Winchester |
Province | Hampshire |
St Swithun's Church is a very old and special Church of England building. It is the smallest ancient parish church in Hampshire, a county in England. St Swithun's is part of a group of churches called the Anglican United Parish. This group includes churches from nearby villages like Newnham, Greywell, and Mapledurwell.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Church
St Swithun's Church was built a very long time ago, around the year 1175. It was made from flint and rough stones. This church is a fantastic example of a Norman church. It's known as a "single-cell apsidal church" because it has one main room and a rounded end, like a half-circle.
There are only four churches like this left in the UK that are still mostly in their original Norman style. Over the years, some parts of the church were updated. For example, a special balcony area was added in 1591. Later, in 1786, this balcony and the roof were rebuilt. The stone around the doors and windows is called Binstead stone.
Visiting the Church: Services and Opening Hours
You can attend church services at St Swithun's. Services usually happen twice a month. The church is part of a larger group of churches, and they all take turns holding services.
A great thing about St Swithun's is that it's never locked during the day. This means you can visit and look around whenever you like. It's a peaceful place to explore and learn about history.