St Andrew's Church, Weston-under-Lizard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew, Weston-under-Lizard
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Location	Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	Saint Andrew
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	19 March 1962
Architect(s)	Elizabeth Wilbraham, George Edmund Street, Ewan Christian
Completed	Medieval, with 18th and 19th century restorations
Administration
Deanery	Penkridge
Diocese	Diocese of Lichfield

The Church of St Andrew is a beautiful old church located in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, England. It's a very important building, listed as Grade I, which means it has special historical value. The church was first built a long time ago, in the medieval period. However, it was mostly rebuilt in the early 1700s by a remarkable woman named Elizabeth Wilbraham, who lived at Weston Park. Later, in the 1800s, it was updated by architects George Edmund Street and Ewan Christian. Today, it's still an active church, part of the Church of England in the Diocese of Lichfield.

History of the Church

The Church of St Andrew has a long history, dating back to the medieval times. Most of the church you see today was rebuilt around 1700-1701. This big project was led by Elizabeth Wilbraham, who was also known as Lady Wilbraham. She was the owner of the Weston estate.

Elizabeth Wilbraham was a very interesting person. Some historians believe she was the first woman architect. In her time, women were not usually allowed to work as architects or take public roles in building projects. Because of this, she might have designed many buildings, but others were given credit for her work.

One historian, John Millar, suggested in 2010 that Elizabeth Wilbraham might have designed over 350 buildings. He even thought she might have taught or worked with famous architects like Christopher Wren. While not everyone agrees on how many buildings she designed, it is generally accepted that she created plans for several buildings for her family and friends. This includes her own home, Weston Park, and the Church of St Andrew.

The Church of St Andrew has continued to be a place of worship for hundreds of years. It is still an active church today, serving the local community in the Diocese of Lichfield.

Church Design and Features

When Elizabeth Wilbraham started rebuilding the church in 1700, only the east wall and a window from the 14th century remained from the original medieval church. She designed the church's tower and the main part, called the nave.

The tower is quite tall, with five sections, and the top section has a castellated design, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The main part of the church, the nave, is described as having a "provincial Baroque" style. This means it has a grand and decorative look, common in England during that period.

Later, in 1869, the church was updated by an architect named George Edmund Street. He added the font, which is a special basin used for baptisms. More work was done between 1876 and 1877 by Ewan Christian. He added a special chapel for the family who owned Weston Park, the Earls of Bradford. This chapel, and other parts of the church, contain memorials to their family members. The Earls of Bradford owned Weston Park until 1986.

Images for kids

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  The Church of St Andrew in Weston-under-Lizard.