St Andrew's Church, Presteigne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | active |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1985 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Presteigne with Discoed |
| Deanery | Kington and Weobley |
| Archdeaconry | Hereford |
| Diocese | Hereford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church is an old church in Presteigne, Powys, Wales. It belongs to the Church of England. People first built parts of this church way back in the 800s! Over time, it has been changed and rebuilt many times. Today, it is a very important historical building.
Contents
A Look at History
Building the Church
The first church here was built by the Anglo-Saxons in the 9th century (the 800s). It stood right next to the River Lugg. Later, after the Norman conquest of Wales, the Normans rebuilt much of the church. They even used some of the original Anglo-Saxon parts, like the north aisle.
In the 12th and 13th centuries (the 1100s and 1200s), the church became even bigger. A tall bell tower was added. New parts like the main hall (called a nave) and a south aisle were also built.
Victorian Changes
Much later, in 1868, the church got a big makeover. A famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott led this work. He fixed the old roof and the wooden bell tower inside. He also added new parts like a chancel and sanctuary, which are important areas near the altar.
Outside, Sir George Gilbert Scott changed the church to look like the popular Gothic Revival style of the time. This style brought back ideas from medieval churches. He added new rooms (a vestry) and side sections (called transepts). He also put a new, pointy top (a spire) on the bell tower.
Special Memorials
Inside the church, you can find a special memorial for Joseph Baker. He was a navy officer who retired in Presteigne. A mountain in the United States, Mount Baker, is named after him! There is also a stone coffin lid from the 1200s. It might have belonged to someone from the powerful Mortimer Family.
The Ancient Tapestry
St Andrew's Church has a very old and special tapestry. It was made in Flanders (now part of Belgium) in 1510. This tapestry shows a famous Bible story: Jesus riding into Jerusalem.
When the church received it in 1737, people first used it as a cloth for the church's altar. In the 1800s, it was put into a frame and hung on the north wall. This tapestry is very rare. It is one of only two tapestries made before the English Reformation (a big change in the church) that are still on display in churches in the United Kingdom.
A Big Decision
In 1914, a law was passed to separate the Church in Wales from the Church of England. This was a big change! But the law was put on hold for a while.
Because of this, in 1915, people in 17 church areas (called parishes), including Presteigne, got to vote. Their areas were on the border between England and Wales. They had to choose if they wanted to stay with the Church of England or join the new Church in Wales.
The people of St Andrew's Church voted! Even though the church is in Wales, 595 people voted to stay with the Church of England, and 289 voted to join the Church in Wales. Because of this vote, St Andrew's Church remained part of the Diocese of Hereford, which is in England.
