St Andrew's Church, Castle Combe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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South side of church
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| Location | Castle Combe, Wiltshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 20 December 1960 |
| Completed | 13th and 15th centuries, restored 19th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Rubble stone and ashlar, stone tile roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Castle Combe |
| Deanery | Chippenham |
| Diocese | Bristol |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church is an old and beautiful church located in the village of Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England. It is a local church that has been used for worship for hundreds of years. The church was first built in the 1200s, with more parts added later. It is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
The Church Building
Most of St Andrew's Church was built in the 1400s. However, some parts, like the chancel (the area around the altar), are even older, from the 1200s. There's also a chapel section from the 1300s. The church is made mostly of rough stone and cut stone, with a roof covered in stone tiles.
The Tower
The church has a tall tower on its west side. Building this tower started in 1434. It has many features typical of churches from that time. These include pointed decorations called pinnacles, strong supports on the corners, and a wall with gaps at the top.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a main area called the nave. There are also chapels on the north-east and south-east sides. Aisles run along the sides, and there is a porch at the south entrance.
The Lady Chapel
The Lady Chapel was once the private chapel for the Scrope family, starting in the mid-1400s. In the early 1800s, the church started to become unstable. The Scrope family helped pay for its repair and restoration. More repairs were done to the roof in 1962. Many decorations inside, like the fittings in the chancel, show the Scrope family's coat of arms. There is also a large, fancy monument to the Scrope family in the Lady Chapel.
Inside the Lady Chapel, you can find a very old memorial. It is dedicated to Walter de Dunstanville, a Baron of Castle Combe who passed away in 1270. The statue shows him with his legs crossed. This often meant that he had fought in the Crusades, which were religious wars long ago.
Recent Repairs
In recent years, St Andrew's Church has had more restoration work. The roof was repaired in 2016, and a medieval screen inside the church was fixed in 2018.
The Organ and Clock
The church's organ was given to them in 1911 and was updated in 1988. At the bottom of the tower, there is a special medieval clock that still works! It's unique because it doesn't have a face to show the time.
Churchyard
Around the church, in the churchyard, there are many old tombs, memorials, and monuments. Twenty-five of these are also considered Grade II listed buildings, meaning they are important historical structures too.
Church Status
St Andrew's Church is part of the Bybrook Team Ministry. It is still an active church where people gather for worship and community events.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Wiltshire
