St Aldhelm's Church, Doulting facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Aldhelm |
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General information | |
Town or city | Doulting |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 51°11′09″N 2°30′21″W / 51.1859°N 2.5058°W |
Completed | 12th century |
The Church of St Aldhelm in Doulting, Somerset, England, is a very old church. It was built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! This church is so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most special historic buildings in England.
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Who Was St Aldhelm?
The church is named after Saint Aldhelm, a very important person from the 8th century. He was a bishop and a scholar. In the year 709, St Aldhelm passed away in Doulting village. To honor him, King Ine of Wessex gave the land around Doulting to Glastonbury Abbey.
You can still see St Aldhelm's legacy in Doulting today. The local spring, which is the start of the River Sheppey, is called St Aldhelm's Well. Even the local primary school is named after him!
Amazing Church Features
When St Aldhelm died in 709, the church was just a small wooden building. Over hundreds of years, it was rebuilt and grew into the stone church we see now.
One special thing about this church is its tall spire. Most churches in Somerset have towers, but St Aldhelm's has a spire that reaches high into the sky. It also has a two-story porch, which is like a grand entrance. Inside the porch, you can find a cool carving of the Green Man. This is a mysterious face made of leaves, often found in old buildings.
Exploring the Churchyard
The area around the church, called the churchyard, also holds history. There's a stone cross from the 15th century, which is over 500 years old! It has a base with eight sides and a square top. This cross is also a very important historic item.
The churchyard is also a place of remembrance. It contains a war grave for a soldier from the Somerset Light Infantry who fought in World War I.
Protecting History
In 2007, there was a plan to install a new toilet inside the church. During the work, some very old graves in the churchyard were accidentally disturbed. These graves were important historical sites, and local people were very upset. They organized a sit-in protest to stop the work and make sure the ancient burial grounds were protected. Their actions helped save these historical parts of the churchyard.