St Andrew's Church, Edgarley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Private |
| Location | |
| Location | Edgarley, Somerset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1897 |
St Andrew's Church is a special building in Edgarley, Somerset, England. It was built in 1897 as a "mission church" for the Church of England. A mission church is like a smaller, local church that helps people who live far from the main church. Today, St Andrew's Church is used as a private chapel by Millfield Preparatory School.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
St Andrew's Church was built in 1897. It was meant to help people living in Edgarley and Havyatt. These villages were quite far, about a mile and a half, from the main church, St John's in Glastonbury. Walking that far for church services was difficult for many.
Planning a New Church
The idea for a local church started around 1892. A man named Edward Bath offered some land in Havyatt for the new building. The local vicar, Rev. Charles Sydenham Ross, liked the idea. However, he became very ill, and the plans could not move forward.
After Rev. Ross passed away in 1893, a new vicar, Rev. Henry Lowry Barnwell, took over in 1894. He decided the land in Havyatt was still too far away. So, he accepted a different piece of land in Edgarley from Mr. J. A. Porch.
Testing the Need for a Church
Before building, Mr. Porch let them hold weekly church services in a nearby room. Later, they used a newly built coach house. Many people came to these services. This showed that there was a real need for a church closer to the villages. Because of this strong interest, preparations for building the church began in 1895. Mr. G. Alves, the town surveyor, drew up the plans. The church was designed to hold 100 people. Mr. R. T. Fisher was chosen as the builder.
Raising Money for Construction
Building a church costs a lot of money. By September 1895, about £75 had been raised. The total cost was estimated to be around £150. By December 1895, the amount raised grew to over £84.
Fundraising continued through 1896. There was a big rummage sale in April at St John's parish room. A play was also performed in May to help raise money. In June 1896, the Bath and Wells Diocesan Church Building Society gave £20 to the fund.
Building and Opening the Church
Construction of St Andrew's Church happened in 1897. It officially opened for services on November 30, 1897. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Right Rev. George Kennion, dedicated the church to St Andrew. The total cost to build the church was £260. When it opened, about £50 was still needed to cover all the costs.
The church was designed to be flexible. It had folding doors between the main area (nave) and the altar area (chancel). This meant the building could be used for church services and other community events.
A New Altar and School Connection
On December 5, 1954, another Bishop of Bath and Wells, Right Rev. Harold Bradfield, dedicated a new altar. This altar was a gift from the governors of Millfield School. Millfield School started in 1945 at Edgarley Hall, very close to the church. The school began using St Andrew's Church early on. Today, the chapel is still used for services and important ceremonies connected to the school.
Church Design and Materials
St Andrew's Church is built from a type of stone called Blue Lias. It also has special cut stones called freestone for details. The building is 36 feet long and 18 feet wide. On its roof, there is a small structure called a bell-cot, which holds a bell.
The church has windows on different sides. There are four windows on the north side, three on the south side, and one each on the west and east sides. You enter the church through a small porch on the south side. The wooden beams in the roof and all the original wooden furniture inside are made from strong pitch pine wood.
