St Andrew's Church, Sonning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church |
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| The Parish Church of St Andrew | |
St Andrew's Church from the north
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| Location | Sonning, Berkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 26 January 1967 |
| Style | Victorian Gothic |
| Years built | 1852–3, 1876, etc. |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Parish of Sonning |
| Deanery | Deanery of Sonning |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Berkshire |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
St Andrew's Church is an old and important Church of England building. It is a parish church located in the middle of Sonning village. Sonning is in the English county of Berkshire, very close to the River Thames. This church is special because it has many beautiful old monuments. It also stands where an even older Anglo-Saxon Cathedral once was.
Where to Find St Andrew's Church
The church is located near where the historic Bishop's Palace used to be. Today, only grassy mounds show where the palace once stood. The famous Bull Inn is right next to the church. The church actually owns this historic pub.
Next to the churchyard, you'll find Deanery Gardens. This is a large house and garden designed in the early 1900s. It was created by famous architect Edwin Lutyens and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. High walls hide the gardens, but you can get a good view from the top of the church tower. Nearby is the brick Sonning Bridge, which crosses the Thames into Oxfordshire. The Great House at Sonning, a historic pub now a hotel, is also by the river.
A Look Back at the Church's History
Sonning was home to a very early Saxon church, called a minster. In 909 AD, this church became one of two cathedrals for the area of Ramsbury and Sonning. You can still see some parts of the original Saxon stonework in the church today.
The north side of the church was built in the 1200s. The south side was added in the early 1300s. However, most of the church you see today looks like it did in the Victorian times. This is because it had big repair and redesign projects in 1852–53 and 1876. These changes were led by Henry Woodyer.
One interesting feature is a fancy monument from the 1600s dedicated to Sir Thomas Rich, 1st Baronet. It's now tucked away at the bottom of the church tower. In 1853, some people thought it looked "pagan." The church also has many beautiful memorial brasses, which are like engraved metal plaques. Many of these are hidden under the carpet. St Andrew's Church is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important historically.
Hugh Pearson was a well-known vicar (church leader) during the Victorian era. Many of the changes to the church happened while he was there. The village hall, Pearson Hall, and Pearson Road are named after him.
Notable People Buried Here
Many people are buried in the churchyard and inside the church itself. Some of these individuals were very important.
Some people buried in the churchyard include:
- Edmund John Phipps-Hornby VC (1857–1947), who received the Victoria Cross medal for bravery.
- Major General Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies VC (1878–1965), another person who received the Victoria Cross.
- Brigadier Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley (1891–1966), an Australian doctor and soldier.
Some people buried inside the church include:
- John Blagrave (major)
- Robert Wright (bishop)
- Sir Thomas Rich, 1st Baronet
- William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell
- Robert Palmer (MP)
- Hugh Pearson
