St Andrew's Church, Whitminster facts for kids
St. Andrew's Church is a historic church located in Whitminster, a village in Gloucestershire, England. This church is very old, with parts of the building dating back to the 1300s (the 14th century)! Over the years, it has been changed and made bigger many times, from the late 1400s to the mid-1800s. St. Andrew's is special because it is one of only a few churches in Gloucestershire that still has a traditional Stoup. A stoup is a stone basin used to hold Holy Water. Since 1955, St. Andrew's Church has been officially recognized as an important historic building, known as grade II listed.
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What Does St. Andrew's Church Look Like?
The church building is made from strong, cut stones. The roof is covered with slate, which is a type of flat rock. The church was changed in the late 1400s when a tall tower was added. Inside, you can see several special wall decorations and parts of a beautiful gilded (gold-covered) screen called a reredos, made by artists Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The church has a set of six bells that can be rung together. The oldest of these bells was made way back in 1634! As mentioned, St. Andrew's is one of the few churches in Gloucestershire that still has a traditional Stoup, which is a stone basin for Holy Water.
The church is part of a group of churches called the Stroudwater Team benefice. This group belongs to the Diocese of Gloucester, which is a larger church area.
A Look Back: The History of St. Andrew's Church
The place where the church stands has been used for worship since at least 1086. However, the oldest parts of the building you can see today are from the 1300s. The south porch, which is like a covered entrance, was probably built in the 1400s.
The church was made bigger in 1842. A new section, called a north aisle, was added. This part was designed by an architect from Bristol named Thomas Foster. The tower was repaired and improved in 1844, as part of a big period of church repairs known as the Victorian restoration. Other parts of the church were also worked on in 1884 by Sir A.W. Blomfeld. Since then, the outside of the church has mostly stayed the same.
St. Andrew's Church has been officially recognized as a grade II listed building since 1955. This means it is an important historic place that should be protected.
