St Andrew's Church, Penrice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Penrice |
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| Church of St Andrew, Penrice | |
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"a conservatively restored medieval church of interesting form"
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 St Andrew's Church, Penrice
Location in Swansea
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| 51°34′12″N 4°10′33″W / 51.5701°N 4.1757°W | |
| Location | Penrice, Swansea |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 3 June 1964 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
The Church of St Andrew in Penrice, Swansea, Wales, is a very old church. It was built way back in the 1100s! This church is a special Grade II* listed building, which means it's really important historically. Today, it's still an active church, serving the local community in the South-West Gower area.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Church
Building a Medieval Church
This church is named after Saint Andrew. It started being built in the early 1100s. Later in the 1100s, the de Penrice family, who owned land nearby, gave the church to a group called the Knights Hospitaller. These knights were a special order from the medieval times.
Much later, in the 1800s, Elizabeth Talbot from Penrice Castle helped fix up and restore the church. It's still a busy church today, part of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is quite big for the Gower area. It's made from local red sandstone and limestone. If you look at it from above, it's shaped like a cross. It has a tower, a main hall called a nave, a chancel (where the altar is), and two side sections called transepts.
A historian named John Newman said these transepts are the church's "most remarkable feature." He noted how wide and deep they are. One of these transepts was used for important church meetings long ago. Later, it even became a schoolroom!
The church is a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important old building. Experts describe it as a "conservatively restored medieval church of interesting form." This means it's an old church that has been carefully repaired, keeping its original look.
A Special Grave in the Churchyard
In the churchyard, you can find the grave of Captain Sir Christopher Cole. He was a brave officer in the Royal Navy. His monument is an early example of Celtic Revival art, made in 1836.
