St Andrew's Church, Congresbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Congresbury |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°22′11″N 2°48′33″W / 51.3697°N 2.8091°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Andrew is a very old Anglican church. It is located in Congresbury, Somerset, England. The church was built in the 13th century. It is so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very special historical building.
Contents
The Story of Congresbury
The village of Congresbury gets its name from Saint Congar. People say he performed three miracles in this area long ago. The second part of the name, 'burh', means a strong, fortified place. A famous archaeologist named Mick Aston found an Anglo-Saxon sculpture. It is believed to be of Saint Congar. This sculpture likely came from St Andrew's Church. Today, you can see it at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.
Building the Church
The current church was officially opened on July 11, 1215. Bishop Jocelin of Wells led the special ceremony.
Church Design and Features
The church was updated in the 15th century. It was changed to a Perpendicular style. This is a type of Gothic architecture. More repairs happened in 1825, 1856, and between 1950 and 1952.
The main part of the church is called the nave. It has pillars with decorated stone supports called corbels. These corbels hold up the wooden roof. The roof also has carved decorations called bosses. The church's organ was rebuilt in 1967. It is located in the chancel, which is near the altar. There is also a special area called the Merle chapel. It used to be known as the Chapel of St Congar. The font, used for baptisms, is very old. It is from the Norman period. The church's tower has a tall, pointed top called a spire. The spire reaches about 120 feet (37 meters) high.
The Church Bells
The tower holds a heavy set of 8 bells. The biggest bell is called the Tenor. It weighs about 3,812 pounds (1,729 kilograms). This bell rings the note of C. The oldest bells in the tower were made in 1606. They were cast by a person named George Purdue.
Church Community
The church is part of a larger group called a benefice. This benefice includes Congresbury, Puxton, and Hewish St Ann. It is all part of the Locking area.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
